Kolkata, Aug. 28 -- Decades after Independence, the battle over "separatist" slogans refuses to die down. Launching a sharp attack on those allegedly raising such slogans, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday asserted that such "anti-national" elements must be dealt with firmly.
Referring to slogans demanding 'azadi' allegedly found on the walls of Jadavpur University, he said: "It pains me when slogans of Azadi are raised on the streets of Kolkata. What freedom are you seeking? The country became independent long ago. Do you want 'azadi' for taking heroin, drugs?"
He was speaking at a programme in Jadavpur organised for chanting 'Vande Mataram' by 10,000 people.
"Red Salute Kishanji cannot be tolerated on the campus. I will see how ex-students can stay in hostels and who smuggle drugs, heroin into the campus. I know how to remove garbage," he said.
Koteshwar Rao, better known as Kishanji, was a senior Maoist leader who died in a gun battle with the police in November 2011, months after the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress came to power in West Bengal.
"These people did not take out any procession when 45 CRPF jawans were killed in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack. When Pakistan is attacked, they become nervous. Those who are raising 'Kashmir Mange Azadi' will be dealt with strongly. These things have reached an unbearable point," Adhikari said.
"We have proposed to include Jadavpur University under the Rs 1,000-crore special Centre of Excellence package. It has a great future. The Communists changed the mindset and distanced people from the spirit of patriotism, Independence Day, Republic Day, the country's traditions and Sanatan culture. After that, Jamat ruled Bengal for 15 years, with its main objective being to give recognition to Urdu as the second language. Establishing nationalism was never on their agenda. During the TMC rule, a youth from a modest background in Ranaghat was murdered in the name of ragging," Adhikari said.
"When I was the Leader of the Opposition and came to attend a programme, some people claiming to be Maoists staged a 'go-back' protest. Two of them were arrested, but were later released on the instructions of then Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. She always sought to reap electoral dividends from such situations. That is why, I believe, these forces were allowed to remain active," Adhikari said.
The Chief Minister also invoked Bengal's spiritual and cultural heritage, referring to Sri Chaitanya, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Rani Rashmoni.
The state government was trying to restore the culture that Bengal had lost, he said.
Adhikari urged the younger generation to shoulder responsibilities towards their families while also contributing to strengthening the country.
"Israel requires everyone to undergo basic military training. India is a liberal country. I hope it will remain liberal," he said.
Adhikari also trained his guns on a vernacular newspaper over its headline referring to an ABVP protest at Jadavpur University as "saffron terror" ("gerua tandav"). Questioning the publication's choice of words, he asked its owner whether they understood the significance of saffron and said the newspaper could instead describe it as the "tandav" of the BJP, Suvendu or the ABVP. "Don't be frightened; you will get an answer," he warned.
Adhikari said saffron was not merely a political colour but a deeply revered symbol associated with spiritual figures such as Swami Vivekananda, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Swami Pranavananda, and questioned the propriety of using it in such a manner. The reported protest slogan at Jadavpur had also used the phrase "gerua santras" ("saffron terror").
"You had predicted that the BJP would win 110, 115 or 118 seats in the Assembly polls, but we won 208. I am not threatening the media; I am referring only to that particular newspaper. You will have to apologise and withdraw the words 'Gerua tandav'. There will be no compromise on this. Otherwise, thousands of sadhus in saffron robes are preparing to act, and they are only waiting for my consent," he remarked.
"I have two roles to play - one as a nationalist and the other as the head of the administration. I have asked them to wait," the Chief Minister added.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.