States » EastPosted at: Sep 28 2026 8:29PM


Bengal Higher Edu Minister warns of action over SRFTI clash, says ‘no one will be spared’

Kolkata, Sep 28 (UNI) A day after reports of clashes involving students and members of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP), West Bengal Higher Education Minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay condemned the violence at the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) and said those found responsible would face action.
Speaking to reporters after an event here, he said violence of any kind had no place in an educational institution.
“Any kind of violence in an educational institution is condemnable. It is not desirable. But from the pictures that I saw, if the pictures of Swami Vivekananda or Bharat Mata were kicked during the clash between the two sides, then we must understand that we are going through a terrible situation,” he said.
“We will change this culture in educational institutions. No student can kick a picture of Vivekananda. This culture will not be tolerated,” the minister said.
“Police are investigating. No one will be spared,” he added.
The incident took place on Sunday morning when the West Bengal unit of ABGP, an organisation affiliated with the RSS, was holding a programme at the SRFTI auditorium.
The organisers said the programme had been held with the institute authorities’ permission from 10 am after paying a rent of Rs 15,000.
A section of students protested against the presence of outsiders on the campus and questioned the authorities over allowing a private organisation to hold a programme at the institute.
Students alleged that ABGP members subsequently attacked them, while some teachers were also injured when they tried to intervene.
Clashes between the two sides continued at different points through the day.
Students of SRFTI alleged that the auditorium was used for practical classes and objected to the holding of an outside organisation’s meeting there.
ABGP West Bengal president Pankaj Roy, however, said the organisation had obtained permission from the authorities and paid for the venue.
“We were holding the meeting after paying Rs 15,000 as rent and obtaining permission from the authorities. Our organisation mainly works on consumer protection and creating awareness among consumers. But an attempt was made to disrupt our meeting. Pictures of Bharat Mata and Swami Vivekananda were torn,” Roy said.
The Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahasangh’s Jadavpur University unit also condemned the alleged desecration of the pictures.
“I condemn those who insult Swami Vivekananda and Bharat Mata. ABGP has shown considerable restraint,” said its Jadavpur University secretary Bhaskar Sardar.
The Calcutta University Teachers’ Association (CUTA) also criticised the violence. “Irrespective of who is at fault, what happened is completely undesirable. There is no place for such violence in the education sector,” CUTA general secretary Sagarmoy Ghosh said.
On Monday, students held a silent protest on the campus.
UNI SAG MCR
Tags: #Bengal Higher Edu Minister warns of action over SRFTI clash# says ‘no one will be spared’
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