Kolkata: CM Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday warned that he would not tolerate any slur on saffron and asserted that he knew how to “cleanse” Jadavpur University of those who raised slogans demanding freedom for Kashmir and Palestine and offered “red salute” to slain Maoist functionary Kishenji.“I have come here only to issue a warning. In today’s West Bengal, where there is a spiritual awakening around saffron, we will not tolerate anyone uttering insulting words against or writing derogatory comments about it. This is my clear message,” Adhikari said after leading a 2.5-km “Gerua Samman Yatra” from Golpark to the 8B crossing in Jadavpur.Vowing strong action against certain wall graffiti at JU, Adhikari said: “I have taken an oath. I will uproot the ‘Kashmir demands azaadi’ gang and those who raise slogans such as ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘Red salute to Kishenji’ from Jadavpur, which houses a centre of excellence and is the land of Rishi Aurobindo.”He asserted, “Bengal’s chief minister knows how to cleanse the campus of them.”The CM said a three-day programme of Veda recitation will be held at the 8B intersection, followed by two ceremonies where Gita and Hanuman Chalisa will be read.“Hiranmayananda ji Maharaj is organising a three-day Ved Paath programme. I expect all nationalist people to participate in it,” Adhikari said in his six-minute speech.“A few days after that event, I will come here twice at the invitation of West Bengal Sanatan Sanskriti Parishad. I will come once to recite Gita and then to read Hanuman Chalisa to teach a lesson to those who are insulting the countrymen and the saffron colour despite staying in this country.”‘Gerua Samman Yatra’, organised to “protect the dignity of saffron”, was joined by BJP supporters from across Kolkata and some districts. It rally began at 4.35 pm after CM Adhikari garlanded a statue of Swami Vivekananda near Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture in Golpark. Moving along the south-bound flank of Raja Subodh Chandra Mullick Road, the rally reached the 8B intersection around 5.10 pm.Saffron flags fluttered above the crowd as the rallyists chanted “Jai Shri Ram”, “Bharat Mata ki jai” and “Sanataner joy hok”. Conch shells were blown to the accompaniment of ululation. At the 8B crossing, Vande Mataram and Gayatri Mantra were played before the CM’s speech.Naga sadhus were among those who walked. Adhikari, dressed in a saffron T-shirt and trousers, walked alongside industry minister Tapas Roy, Kartik Maharaj, Shanku Deb Panda and other party functionaries.The procession disrupted traffic across parts of south Kolkata for several hours. Autorickshaws stayed off the road, while buses on several routes were diverted. A large contingent of police and central forces was deployed along the route and outside JU. All gates of the campus along Raja SC Mullick Road were barricaded.The choice of Jadavpur for Gerua Samman Yatra added political significance to the mobilisation. Last month, Adhikari had led a programme titled “10,000 Voices for Vande Mataram” near JU, criticising slogans allegedly raised on the campus and questioning the nature of protests there.
