Mamata Banerjee shocks Oxford audience, Unveils 1990s murder attempt poster

As West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who is on a visit to the United Kingdom at present, stood up to address Kellogg College at Oxford University, she was greeted by a succession of protests and aggressive disruptions regarding her state's development and investment policy.

Political Fireworks at Oxford

The gathering became dramatic when members of the audience, allegedly headed by the Students' Federation of India (SFI-UK), a left-wing students' body, disrupted Mamata Banerjee with critical questions. The tensions started when Banerjee addressed West Bengal's development and investment prospects but further intensified when the issue of the controversial RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case in Kolkata was raised. One of the viewers asked her to explain how the Mamata Banerjee-led government had addressed the delicate subject, resulting in a cutting response between the two. Someone even asked the question of the Hindus in Bengal to which the TMC chief reacted by remarking, "I am for all, Hindus and Muslims." Then, there was a chant of "Go back" by part of the crowd, fuelling the chaos. A clearly agitated Banerjee attacked the protesters and remarked, "You should let me speak. You are insulting me, you are disrespecting your institution."

Mamata Banerjee pulls out a 1990's poster

But when the hubbub refused to die down, Banerjee, in a dramatic display of grit, took out a poster-sized photo of herself from the 1990s, where she appeared with a bandaged head from severe injuries.A visibly furious Banerjee scolded the protesters and said, "You should allow me to speak.You are not insulting me; you are insulting your institution." After the event, SFI-UK made a statement on behalf of the protest, the publication further added. The group also criticized Kellogg College for inviting Banerjee, describing her as an "anti-democratic leader."SFI-UK organized a protest in Kellogg College, Oxford against Mamata Banerjee's address. We asked for evidence of her so-called social progress by protesting her outright lies. Instead of letting us share our views peacefully, the police were summoned," they posted on X.