Suvendu Adhikari targets ‘Azadi’ slogans, ‘Red Salute Kishanji’ graffiti

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday targeted ‘Azadi’ slogans and questioned ‘Red Salute Kishanji’ graffiti at Jadavpur University. At a Raksha Bandhan event, he linked the festival with patriotism and announced efforts to restore NCC across Bengal schools and colleges

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday targeted those raising ‘Azadi’ slogans and questioned the graffiti of ‘Red Salute Kishanji’ to hail a Maoist leader, who was killed in police firing in the state in 2011, on the walls of Jadavpur University.

Addressing a Raksha Bandhan programme at his Bhabanipur assembly constituency in south Kolkata, Adhikari linked the festival with patriotism and nationalism and invoked Bengal’s contribution to the freedom struggle.

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He also launched a sharp attack on those he accused of conspiring to divide the country from within, saying such elements must be “cleaned out like household garbage”.

“Raksha Bandhan has religious significance and celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters, but patriotism has also become intertwined with this festival,” he said in his address.

Adhikari said the armed forces would deal with India’s external enemies, but people within the country were working against its interests.

“Those who are enemies outside the country have already been shown our strength and will be shown it in future as well. But we must also take a pledge to clean like household garbage those who, from within the country, attack patriotism, nationalism, Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana,” he said.

Adhikari said slogans demanding “azadi” were painful for him and stressed the sacrifices made during India’s freedom struggle.

“When I see Azadi slogans on the streets of Kolkata, it pains me. What is this Azadi for? We must remember the sacrifices of our freedom fighters, Netaji’s struggle and Matangini Hazra’s sacrifice. India became independent in 1947,” he said.

Adhikari specifically referred to Jadavpur University, questioning why slogans relating to Kashmir were being raised there and on the streets of Kolkata.

He also questioned the graffiti of “Red Salute Kishanji” on the walls of the university’s arts department.

“Jadavpur University is a centre of excellence. We have had so many wars and so much conflict with Pakistan over Kashmir. Why will you write ‘Kashmir wants Azadi’ on the streets of Kolkata? This is painful,” Adhikari said, referring to last week’s student unrest at the varsity.

“It pains me when ‘Red Salute Kishanji’ is written on the walls of Jadavpur. What are you teaching the new generation? Who is this Kishanji? One who demanded the country’s partition; who did not accept the Constitution,” Adhikari 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.

At a programme on Thursday, Adhikari had said, “Say Inquilab Zindabad, but if you say Azaadi, you will face a case. If you say ‘Kashmir maange Azaadi’, we will face arrest.”

Adhikari also questioned why the opposition has been objecting to the full version of ‘Vande Mataram’.

He said, “Vande Mataram was not written by any political leader. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote it. What is the objection to it?”

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 announced that efforts were being made to introduce NCC in all schools and colleges in West Bengal.

He said he had discussed the issue with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and would write to him seeking the introduction of NCC across educational institutions.

Adhikari said NCC had earlier been discontinued in the state in favour of the ‘Jai Hind Bahini’ during the TMC regime and asserted that there is no substitute for NCC.

The chief minister also said that ‘Bratachari’ would be brought back to Bengal. The Bratachari movement was introduced in 1932 by civil servant Gurusaday Dutt in Bengal. It used folk dances, songs, and physical training to build national pride, fitness, and unity among all people.

Adhikari began his Raksha Bandhan programmes from his residence on Friday morning, where women police personnel, including Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate’s DC New Town Aishwarya Sagar and Baguiati police station inspector-in-charge Sanjay Ghosh, tied rakhis on his wrist.

Later, Adhikari joined a procession and took part in a ‘kirtan’ on a road in front of TMC party supremo and former Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence. Senior party leaders and others accompanied him.