Kolkata, Aug 22 — West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday evening said that as the administrative head of the state, he is determined to end anti‑national activities at Jadavpur University (JU) in South Kolkata and establish the spirit of nationalism there “at any cost.”
“They do not let Vande Mataram be sung in JU. The national flag is not hoisted there. They do not let the Education Department officials enter the university campus. They do not let CCTV cameras be installed there. But we will establish nationalism inside and outside Jadavpur,” the Chief Minister said, referring to two clashes between CPI(M)’s student wing SFI and the ABVP.
He was addressing a programme on Annapurna Yojana in his constituency of Bhabanipur in South Kolkata. On the occasion, Adhikari launched a scathing attack on those trolling the state government and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the JU clashes.
“I have seen many people crying on social media over the JU clashes. They should listen: if they want to live in this state, they will have to sing Vande Mataram. There is no compromise with patriotism, nationalism and statehood. It is our responsibility to stitch the lips of those who are raising the slogan ‘Kashmir Mange Azadi’. If you want to live in this state, you have to sing Vande Mataram. That is final,” Adhikari said.
According to him, no matter how much a section of the media sympathises with those who do not observe January 26 or August 15, the state government will not budge from its position.
“This state government is here to fulfil the dream of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. There will be no compromise with nationalism, traditional culture,” he added.
Many students from both SFI and ABVP sides were injured in the clashes at JU. Although police have registered two FIRs, no arrests have been made so far.