Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was delivering a speech at Kellogg College.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was confronted by left-wing student protesters during her maiden speech at the Kellogg College, Oxford University in London on Thursday. A group of students - belonging to the UK unit of the CPI(M)'s Students' Federation of India (SFI), showed up with placards during her speech. They raised questions over violence during the 2023 panchayat elections, the rape of a minor girl allegedly by the son of a Trinamool Congress leader, and Ms Banerjee's 2012 statement on why rapes happen - men and women interact more freely now, like an open market.
Instead of being bogged down by the protesters, she welcomed them and responded to their allegations: "You are welcoming me, thank you. I will feed you sweets."
When students began questioning the Chief Minister over RG Kar rape case, she said, "Please raise your voice. It is a democracy. Please raise your voice. I'll listen. I will listen carefully."
Sharing the case status, Ms Banerjee said the central government has taken over the investigation and the state government has no role to play. She further urged student protesters not to indulge in politics.
"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.
One of the student protestors alleged that the Trinamool leader threatened to break their fingers. "You are lying," Ms Banerjee shot back.
Addressing the protester as "brother", Ms Banerjee said, "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 also held up a black and white photograph from 1990 that showed her injured and wrapped in bandages from an alleged murderous assault on her by Lalu Alam, a CPI(M) youth wing worker. In 2019, Lalu Alam walked free due to a lack of evidence.
Accusing people of attempting to kill her, Ms Banerjee said, "I was about to die. These are your atrocities."
The Chief Minister said this isn't "drama" and insisted protestors not to misbehave. "Instead of insulting me, you are insulting your institution. Don't disrespect your institution. You can disrespect me, but you cannot disrespect your institution."
Ms Banerjee alleged that this is the "habit" of the left to create chaos wherever she goes. "The same thing can be repeated when your leaders visit," she warned.
She also said that she believes in unity. "I am for Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Isai. I am for all. I am for unity. You people are not."
The Chief Minister added, "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 clipping on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Trinamool wrote: "She doesn't flinch. She doesn't falter. The more you heckle, the fiercer she roars. Smt. @MamataOfficial is a Royal Bengal Tiger!"
BJP Calls Mamata Banerjee 'A Disgrace To Bengal'
BJP leader Amit Malviya shared a couple of posters that were held up to Mamata Banerjee during her address at Oxford. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Malviya said, "She is a disgrace to West Bengal. The Hindu Bengali diaspora wants her out as the Chief Minister for destroying Bengal's legacy and putting them through such ignominy."
BJP leader Sanjay Jaiswal called Ms Banerjee "anti-Indian" and alleged she went abroad with an "anti-India agenda."
"Just like Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee also went abroad with an anti-India agenda... politics of people like Mamata Banerjee is on how to let Bangladeshis enter Bengal and the country, how to give them Aadhar cards...She has shown there that she is anti-Indian," Mr Jaiswal told news agency ANI.
