Kolkata: Bengal BJP functionaries on Monday condemned the alleged tearing of a Vivekananda poster and claimed two SC students were abused for being present at an “elite institute”.During the Sunday clash at SRFTI, where RSS-affiliated ABGP held a programme at a hall, Bengal BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar had claimed, a “group of urban and dimagi Naxals stormed the venue, shouted slogans, and tore and kicked posters, bearing images of Bharat Mata and Vivekananda”. He even alleged that two SC students were abused and nine women molested. “The agitators identified two SC students and asked them how they could access such an elite institute. We won’t tolerate the abuse of an SC student in Bengal,” he said. Union MoS for education Sukanta Majumdar said two outfits might have differences but that did not mean disrespecting each other’s ideologies. “How can someone kick Vivekananda’s poster while in Bengal? Should I even think of kicking Karl Marx though I don’t believe in his philosophies?” he said. Majumdar said the programme was being held at a central institute and they had the permission. “They fought with organisers; it cannot be accepted,” he added.Bengal higher education minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay said, “Violence at any educational institute is condemnable. From the footage I’ve seen, if Vivekananda’s or Bharat Mata’s picture is kicked, it must be understood we are going through a terrifying situation. We will change this culture… no Bengali student can kick Vivekananda’s picture. This culture will not be tolerated.” He said police were investigating and none would be spared.State transport minister Arjun Singh threatened with a “blackout” to “control the situation”. “The CM is a bit liberal. If he can entrust me with the job, we will black-out the area and control the situation,” he said. Urban development minister Agnimitra Paul, who posted a video of some youths tearing apart Vivekananda’s poster, accused the Left of trying to insult Vivekananda. “It is not only an insult to Bengal but also to the nation,” she posted online.Speaking at the Ved Path event on Layelka ground in Baghajatin on Monday, Hiranmay Goswami Maharaj also condemned the attack on a Vivekananda poster. “They cannot disrespect a Vivekananda photo. Such teachings need to be ingrained from childhood for proper character-building. At JU, students are seen immersed in intoxication and raising slogans about tearing the country into fragments. These need to be stopped,” he said.
