Kolkata, September 28 (Daily Kiran) : A violent clash between two student factions at the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata has ignited controversy and drawn responses from various political leaders. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury described the incident as unfortunate, emphasizing that such events tarnish the reputation of the prestigious film institution.
Speaking to reporters, Chowdhury stated, “This is very wrong. The Satyajit Ray Film Institute is a source of pride for our country. Satyajit Ray was an Oscar winner, often considered the Nobel Prize of the film world. Incidents of this nature in an institution named after such a great filmmaker damage the state’s image.”
Democratic Trinamool Congress national spokesperson Riju Dutta also expressed his concerns. He stressed that educational institutions should remain free from political activities. Dutta accused certain individuals of behaving inappropriately with posters of Swami Vivekananda and Bharat Mata, insisting that legal action should be taken against those responsible.
Dutta further implicated Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh, alleging that the incident was orchestrated to divert media attention away from Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, while also calling for increased security measures.
Tensions escalated at SRFTI during a program organized by the All India Home Panchayat. The organization claimed that students protested the event, tearing down posters and banners. Conversely, students reported being physically assaulted, with claims of being beaten with sticks and even attacked with knives. They also alleged that their clothing was torn and mobile phones confiscated, with reports of female students being assaulted as well.
In response to remarks made by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari regarding reading the Bhagavad Gita fearlessly, Dutta emphasized that the Indian Constitution grants every citizen the right to practice their religion.
Adhikari had stated that those who insult saints and sages would face imprisonment, highlighting a crackdown on perceived disrespect towards religious figures.
Dutta appealed to Dhirendra Shastri of Bageshwar Dham to understand and respect Bengali culture, hoping that Chief Minister Adhikari would encourage Shastri to appreciate the traditions of Bengal.
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