London, March 28, 2025: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faced a tense moment at Kellogg College, Oxford University, as protesters disrupted her speech on Thursday. The Trinamool Congress chief was met with placards and questions over various issues, including the RG Kar rape-murder case and the Singur controversy.
While addressing the audience, Banerjee highlighted Bengal’s social welfare initiatives and economic growth. “We are running 97 social sector schemes. Kolkata has now emerged as a key job destination in the country,” she stated. However, the event took a heated turn as audience members raised concerns about governance issues in Bengal, particularly the recent incident at Jadavpur University, where a student was allegedly injured by a vehicle in Education Minister Bratya Basu’s convoy.
Responding to the protests, Banerjee firmly stated, “You are insulting your own institution.” She identified some of the protesters as “ultra Left and Left faces” and displayed a picture of injuries she had sustained during the Left Front regime in Bengal. When asked about the RG Kar incident, she reiterated that it was under investigation by the Central government and thus sub judice.
Banerjee’s speech emphasized her commitment to unity and secularism. “India is a nation where all religions, castes, and creeds coexist. In Bengal, 34% of the population belongs to minority communities, including Muslims, Christians, and Buddhists. I have always fought for unity and wish to see it prevail,” she said.
The Chief Minister also underscored Bengal’s progress in education and healthcare. She mentioned the Kanyashree scholarship, which supports one million female students up to the university level, reducing the school dropout rate to almost zero. “Institutional deliveries in our state were above 60% when we came to power; today, they stand at 99.9%. Within a year, we aim to achieve 100%,” she declared, citing the establishment of multiple mother-and-child hubs and super-specialty hospitals.
Highlighting welfare initiatives, Banerjee spoke about free essential food provisions and healthcare services in Bengal. She also lauded the ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ scheme, which provides financial aid to women, a model now replicated in several Indian states.
Following the event, Banerjee sat for an interview with a college representative. When asked about India’s projected economic growth—potentially becoming the largest economy by 2060—she expressed skepticism, stating, “I will differ…”
Despite the disruptions, Mamata Banerjee remained steadfast, reiterating her vision for a united, prosperous Bengal while navigating a challenging exchange at one of the world’s leading academic institutions.
