Protesters disrupt Mamata Banerjee’s University of Oxford speech

Protesters disrupted chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s speech at the University of Oxford on Thursday over Tata Group’s withdrawal from West Bengal in 2008 following her Trinamool Congress (TMC)’s protests against land acquisition and a trainee doctor’s rape and murder at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital and Medical College last year.

She referred to protesters as “Left, ultra-Left friends and communal forces” and said she did not mind if they asked her questions. “Tata has set up industries in Kharagpur and Rajarhat. ...Please raise your voice. It is a democracy. I will listen carefully,” Banerjee said with folded hands.

Banerjee pulled out pictures from the 90s when she was attacked during the then Left Front rule while leading a rally in Kolkata. “These were your atrocities. This is how you wanted to kill me. Have a look. Do not behave like this. This is misbehaviour. You are insulting your institution. Do not disrespect your institution. This is their habit. They cannot change their habit,” she said.

“Please do not do politics here. This is not a political platform... you can [protest] in my state. Not here. Do not do it...If you want to turn this into a political platform, go to Bengal and tell your party to be stronger and steadier in fighting against the communal people,” Banerjee told the protestors.

She said the same thing can be repeated when their leaders visit other countries. “This is not proper. It is very easy to do politics here. But please, my Left and ultra-Left friends and some communal forces do not behave like this. Please have a good sleep with your agenda. My best wishes to all of you,” she said.

“After this, I will try to come twice every year. You gave me the strength and inspiration. You encouraged me. Didi does not bother. She works like a Royal Bengal Tiger.”

The Left-wing Students Federation of India protested against the West Bengal government this month. Before leaving Kolkata for the United Kingdom (UK), Banerjee alleged that political opponents were playing a “dirty game” and attempts were being made to malign the state and humiliate the people of West Bengal during her visit.

“It is unfortunate that there are some enemies of the people in the country and our state, especially. They are playing some dirty games through emails and WhatsApp groups. Some letters have been drafted maligning us. We have received some of them. I do not mind and feel sad because they are my opponents,” she alleged.

Banerjee’s keynote address at the University of Oxford’s Kellogg College, titled “Social development – Girl, Child and Women Empowerment,” was the highlight of her six-day trip to the UK. She highlighted some of the schemes of her government for girls and women.

“We have 97 social security schemes. ...we gift a sapling when a child is born. By the time the child turns 18 years, the value of the tree increases manifold. We also give financial assistance to a family to perform the last rites of a person,” said Banerjee, whose audience of around 200 included mostly students, researchers, and teachers.

“Our Kanyashree scheme, a financial assistance to school-going girls, has helped to bring down the school drop-out rate from more than 30% to less than 2%. Kanyashree received a UN award in 2013. It is now being followed by other states,” Banerjee said.