Banerjee then showed an old image of herself from the early 1990s with a bandaged head. She claimed it was proof that she had faced violence when she was in the opposition.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faced a major disruption during her speech at Kellogg College, Oxford University, in London. The interruption happened when members of the audience started asking tough questions and raising slogans against her.
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) – UK, a left-wing student organisation, later took responsibility for the protest.
ALSO READ: [RG-Kar Rape Verdict] CM Mamata Banerjee Demands Death Penalty for Convict Sanjay Roy
SFI-UK openly admitted to organising the demonstration against Mamata Banerjee during her speech. In a post on their Facebook page, they stated:
“The Students’ Federation of India – United Kingdom held a demonstration at Kellogg College, Oxford University, against Mamata Banerjee’s speech. In support of the students and working masses of West Bengal, SFI-UK raised its voice in opposition to Mamata Banerjee and the TMC’s corrupt, undemocratic rule.”
During her speech, SFI student leaders interrupted Mamata Banerjee and questioned her about RG Kar Medical College.
In response, she said “This matter is sub judice; this case is with the central government. Do not do politics here. This platform is not for politics. You should go to Bengal and tell your political party to become even stronger. I will answer you—first, see my picture, showing how an attempt was made to kill me.”
Banerjee then showed an old image of herself from the early 1990s with a bandaged head. She claimed it was proof that she had faced violence when she was in the opposition.
As the protest continued, Mamata Banerjee insisted that she should be allowed to complete her speech. She addressed the protesters directly, saying:
“You should give me a chance to speak. You are not insulting me; you are disrespecting your institution. These people do this everywhere. They do it wherever I go. What you are doing is not right.”
Even after this, the disruptions did not stop. During the question-and-answer session, someone asked her about the Tata Group pulling out of West Bengal. This referred to the Tata Motors Nano project in Singur, which her party had opposed, leading to Tata’s exit in 2008.
Mamata Banerjee once again pointed to the same old picture of herself from the 1990s, emphasizing the struggles she had faced in her political career.
RG Kar Medical College Incident (2024):
On August 9, 2024, a 31-year-old female postgraduate trainee doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata was found raped and murdered within the college premises. The prime accused, Sanjay Roy, a police volunteer, was arrested and later sentenced to life imprisonment. This incident sparked nationwide outrage, leading to widespread protests by medical professionals demanding better security measures in hospitals.
The case also unveiled allegations of evidence tampering and administrative negligence, resulting in the arrest of the hospital’s former principal and the local police station chief.
Singur Land Acquisition Controversy (2006-2008):
The Singur controversy revolved around the West Bengal government’s acquisition of approximately 997 acres of fertile farmland in Singur, Hooghly district, for Tata Motors’ Nano car manufacturing plant. Initiated in 2006, the project faced massive opposition from local farmers and political activists, primarily due to concerns over forced land acquisition and inadequate compensation.
The protests, led by opposition parties and supported by various activists, culminated in Tata Motors withdrawing from the project in 2008 and relocating to Gujarat. In 2016, the Supreme Court of India declared the land acquisition illegal and ordered the return of the land to the farmers. Subsequently, in 2023, Tata Motors secured an arbitral award of Rs. 766 crore plus interest as compensation for losses incurred due to the abandoned project.
Watch Video
FOLLOW US FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES ON YOUTUBE
