When West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, currently on a visit to the United Kingdom, rose to speak at Oxford University’s Kellogg College, she was met with a series of protests and intense disruptions about her state’s development and investment model.
The event turned dramatic when audience members, reportedly led by the Students’ Federation of India (SFI-UK), a left-wing student organisation, interrupted Mamata Banerjee with pointed questions, India Today reported.
The tensions began as Banerjee spoke about West Bengal’s progress and investment opportunities but escalated further when questions were raised about the controversial RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case in Kolkata.
Protests were held during Mamata Banerjee’s speech at Kellogg College, Oxford this evening, disrupting the event. pic.twitter.com/uovvF08Xo1
— Naomi Canton (@naomi2009) March 28, 2025
A member of the audience demanded to know how Mamata Banerjee’s government had handled the sensitive issue, leading to a sharp exchange between the two.
A question also arose about the treatment of Hindus in Bengal, to which the TMC supremo responded by saying, “I am for all, Hindus and Muslims.” Moments later, chants of “Go back” erupted from a section of the audience, adding to the chaos.
A visibly frustrated Banerjee lashed out at the protesters and said, “You should give me a chance to speak. You are not insulting me; you are disrespecting your institution.”
Mamata Banerjee pulls out a 1990’s poster
However, when the commotion failed to cool down, Banerjee, in a dramatic move of resilience, pulled out a poster-sized image of herself from the 1990s, showing her with a bandaged head due to serious injuries.
Holding it up for the audience to see, she said, “First, see my picture, how an attempt was made to kill me.” The disruptions, however, didn’t end there.
During the Q&A session, the West Bengal CM was confronted with questions regarding the Tata Group’s controversial withdrawal from the state during her tenure, and once again, she referenced the image from the 1990s to point out her political struggles.
SFI-UK claims responsibility for the protests
Following the event, SFI-UK issued a statement taking responsibility for the protest, the publication reported. The group also condemned Kellogg College for hosting Banerjee, calling her an “anti-democratic leader.”