Tensions rise as Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee faces student protest at Oxford University

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faced protests from left-wing students while delivering her first speech at Kellogg College, Oxford University, on March 27.

A group of students from the UK chapter of CPI(M)'s Students' Federation of India (SFI) raised placards, questioning her on various issues, including the violence during the 2023 panchayat elections, an alleged rape case involving a Trinamool Congress leader’s son, and her controversial 2012 remark on rape, which suggested that greater interaction between men and women had led to increased incidents of sexual violence.

Rather than being disrupted by the protests, Banerjee welcomed the students and humorously responded: “You are welcoming me, thank you. I will feed you sweets.”

When students began pressing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee about the RG Kar rape case, she responded, “Please raise your voice. It is a democracy. Please raise your voice. I'll listen. I will listen carefully.”

She then said that the central government had taken over the investigation and that the state government no longer had a role.

Banerjee urged the protesting students not to mix politics with the issue.

"You know the case is sub-judice and the central government has taken over. It is not with us. Please don't do politics here. It is not a political state. That (politics) you can do with me in my state. Not here," she said.

When a protester accused a Trinamool leader of threatening to break their fingers, Banerjee quickly refuted the claim, saying, “You are lying.”

Addressing the protester as "brother," she added, “Don't do it. I have a special affection for you. We love all of you. Don't try to make it into a political platform. If you want to make it a political platform, go to Bengal and tell your party to be stronger, to fight against the communal people. Don't fight with me.”

The Chief Minister displayed a 1990 photograph of herself injured and wrapped in bandages from an alleged murderous assault by Lalu Alam, a CPI(M) youth wing worker.

In 2019, Lalu Alam walked free due to a lack of evidence. Banerjee accused people of attempting to kill her, saying, “I was about to die. These are your atrocities.”

The CM emphasized that this is not a "drama" and urged protestors not to misbehave.

Banerjee accused the left of creating chaos wherever she goes, warning, “The same thing can be repeated when your leaders visit.”

She emphasized her belief in unity, saying, “I am for Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Isai. I am for all. I am for unity. You people are not.”

Banerjee confidently declared, “You encourage me. Didi will come every time. Didi does not bother anybody. Didi walks like a Royal Bengal Tiger. If you can catch me, catch me!”

Sharing the moment on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Trinamool posted, "She doesn't flinch. She doesn't falter. The more you heckle, the fiercer she roars. Smt. @MamataOfficial is a Royal Bengal Tiger!”