Will uproot them: Saffron-clad Bengal CM warns Jadavpur students over 'Azadi' slogans

West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari warned Jadavpur University students over slogans such as "Kashmir Mange Azadi" and "Free Palestine", saying those insulting saffron would be taught a lesson. He led a saffron-themed procession to the campus, where political graffiti and clashes between Left-backed groups and ABVP have intensified.

In Short

• Adhikari plans two visits to Jadavpur University to chant Geeta paath and Hanuman Chalisa
• He leads a saffron procession in south Kolkata to uphold saffron's dignity
• Procession attended by monks, seers and BJP supporters chanting Jai Shri Ram

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday warned those raising slogans such as “Kashmir Mange Azadi” and “Free Palestine”, saying they would be taught a lesson and asserting that the BJP would no longer tolerate any “insult” to the saffron colour. He was taking a dig at Jadavpur University students amid an ongoing row over political graffiti on the campus.

“I want to teach the lesson to them and that is why I will soon come twice in Jadavpur. I will once come to chant Geeta paath and the second time I will come to chant Hanuman Chalisa,” Adhikari said while addressing a gathering outside Jadavpur University.

“Today we have sounded a caution. From now on, anyone who tries to insult saffron shall think five times,” he said.

“We shall no more tolerate insult of the saffron. And those who raise slogans such as Kashmir Mange Azadi, Free Palestine and Red Salute to Kishenji, this Bengal CM knows very well how to teach them a lesson,” Adhikari said.

Earlier in the day, Adhikari led a mega procession in south Kolkata to uphold the “dignity” of the saffron colour. Chanting “Jai Shri Ram”, a huge number of monks and seers participated in the ‘Gerua Samman Yatra’, which began at Golpark and concluded at the 8B bus stand, outside the Jadavpur University campus.

Dressed in saffron and carrying a saffron flag, Adhikari led the 3-km-long procession, which was also joined by hundreds of BJP supporters.

“We will uproot the forces raising Kashmir wants freedom slogans on the Jadavpur University campus,” he said, addressing the gathering outside the campus.

The march comes against the backdrop of a political and ideological battle at Jadavpur University, where clashes, graffiti and slogan wars between Left-backed student groups and the RSS-affiliated ABVP have intensified in recent days.

A BJP leader told news agency PTI that the procession was organised to “protect the dignity of the colour saffron” and protest attempts to “malign it”.

The march was intended to spread awareness about the values, ideals and dignity associated with the colour saffron, he said.

The march was held less than a fortnight after Adhikari attended a programme outside the campus, where around 10,000 people sang the full version of ‘Vande Mataram’.

- Ends