The controversy over Saraswati Puja at Jogeshchandra Law College in Kolkata intensified on Sunday as West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu faced protests from students alleging threats from outsiders linked to the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP).

The dispute began when a group of students, mostly women, accused TMCP members, led by ex-student Sabir Ali, of preventing them from organizing Saraswati Puja on campus. Some students alleged they received rape threats from outsiders. The issue reached the Calcutta High Court, which ordered Kolkata Police to ensure the puja could be conducted peacefully with proper security arrangements.

On January 29, tensions escalated as students claimed they were intimidated at the college entrance. One student filed a petition in court, leading to an order directing a top-ranked Kolkata Police official to oversee security and deploy personnel at the college gate.

On Sunday, Basu and TMC MP Mala Roy visited the college, where they were met with “We Want Justice” slogans from female students. Basu assured them that no one would be allowed to threaten or coerce them and that strict action would be taken if any wrongdoing was found. He also met with the students, visited the Saraswati idol, and promised to address their grievances in a meeting scheduled for February 5-6.

TMCP leader Sabir Ali rejected the allegations, stating that his group was organizing a separate puja in an adjacent lane and had not issued any threats. “They cannot show any proof of these claims,” he said, asserting his right to participate as an alumnus.

MP Mala Roy criticized the protests, stating that Saraswati Puja should not be an occasion for political slogans. She claimed that everything was proceeding as per the High Court’s orders, with police ensuring security. She suggested that political elements were trying to disrupt the college’s academic environment.

Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim echoed her concerns, stating that festivals in West Bengal—including Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja—are celebrated with communal harmony, and accused certain forces of trying to divide people along religious lines.

Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP strongly condemned the incident, alleging that West Bengal is turning into Bangladesh and that Saraswati Pujas are being conducted under police protection due to hostility from radical elements. “I urge all devout Hindus to unite against this,” he said.

The situation remains tense, with students demanding justice and the state government denying allegations of intimidation. The coming days will determine whether the controversy escalates further or is resolved through dialogue.

Source: PTI