West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu faced protests on Sunday by a group of students at a law college in Kolkata, who claimed that they had been threatened by outsiders led by a Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) leader over organising Saraswati Puja on campus.
The issue stemmed from a dispute between two student groups at Jogeshchandra Law College, where one group sought to hold the puja on the college premises, news agency PTI reported. The conflict escalated when, on January 29, several female students alleged that they were being prevented from organising the festival by TMCP members, led by ex-student Sabir Ali, who reportedly issued rape threats.
One of the female students subsequently approached the Calcutta High Court, seeking intervention. In response, the court ordered that the students should be allowed to celebrate the puja with adequate security and instructed the Kolkata Police to ensure their safety. The police were also tasked with posting sufficient personnel at the college gate to monitor the situation.
This year’s puja has become contentious as students of both a general college and the law college share the same campus at different times of the day. For years, the two colleges have jointly organised the event, but tensions have been high this year.
When Minister Basu arrived at the law college, he was met with “We Want Justice” slogans from the protesting female students. Accompanied by local Trinamool Congress MP Mala Roy, Basu assured the students that they would not be coerced or threatened. “I am here to talk to you. None will coerce you, terrorise you or threaten you. If anyone has issued any threat, we will take strong action against him,” Basu said, as quoted by PTI.
Several female students broke down in front of the minister, reiterating that they had been threatened with assault and rape by outsiders when entering the college. Basu responded, “I have met the students, I had a darshan of the idol and offered prayers. I have assured the students we will look into their grievances and appropriate action will be taken after inquiry. I will meet them and the college authorities on February 5-6 to discuss the issues.”
However, Ali rejected the allegations, stating, “We are organising the Saraswati puja of the day section in the adjacent lane of the college. No threats have been issued against anyone. They cannot show any such video (of issuing threats).” He also claimed that as an alumnus, he had the right to participate in the puja.
MP Mala Roy added, “Saraswati Puja is not the occasion to shout slogans demanding justice.” She further clarified that she and the education minister had visited both puja pandals on the campus and found no provocation or aggression from the organisers. “Everything is being conducted as ordered by the honourable high court in the presence of the police. There are reasons to suspect that those demanding justice are backed by political elements who want to disrupt the academic functioning of the law college and foment trouble during the Saraswati puja,” Roy said, as per PTI.
Firhad Hakim Alleges Bid To Disrupt Communal Harmony, BJP Slams TMC Over Row
Senior Minister Firhad Hakim weighed in, stating that festivals like Saraswati Puja and Durga Puja in West Bengal were both social and religious events, with people from diverse communities participating. “But some forces are trying to disrupt the prevailing communal harmony in the state. They want to vitiate the atmosphere by using isolated incidents of squabble between two individuals. Their political ploy will never succeed,” Hakim remarked.
Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP criticised the situation, alleging that Saraswati Pujas in the state were being organised under police supervision, and claimed the state was turning into Bangladesh. “I ask all devout Hindus to be united and foil the game plan of radical Islamist elements sheltered by the TMC,” Adhikari stated.
