'Who behaves like this...' BJP attacks Mamata Banerjee over heckling at Oxford event

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Malviya on Friday shared a video claiming that individuals belonging to the Bengali Hindu community confronted West Bengal Chief Mamata Banerjee at Kellogg College.

Minister Mamata Banerjee faced protests from a group of people at Oxford University's Kellogg College in London on Thursday. She was questioned regarding the RG Kar College case and post-poll violence in West Bengal.

"Bengali Hindus confront West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Kellogg College in London, raising angry slogans calling her out for the rape and murder of the lady doctor at RG Kar, crimes against women in Sandeshkhali, the genocide of Hindus, and widespread corruption," Malviya posted on X.

The BJP leader further criticised Mamata Banerjee, calling her a "disgrace" to West Bengal.

"Just a few posters that were held up to Mamata Banerjee... She is a disgrace to West Bengal. The Hindu Bengali diaspora wants her out as the Chief Minister for destroying Bengal's legacy and putting them through such ignominy," he added.

Heckling and slogans

The video posted by the BJP showed Mamata Banerjee facing several interruptions during her speech. Someone in the audience raised a question about the condition of Hindus in Bengal.

"I am for all, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians," Banerjee responded, after which some members of the audience began chanting "Go back" slogans.

The Chief Minister addressed one of the protesters as "brother" and said, "Please remember this... and don't do politics. It's very easy to do politics here and create negative narratives."

Trinamool Congress responds

In a video posted by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Mamata Banerjee responded to the protesters, saying, "You encourage me. Please smile with a hope that Didi will come every time. Didi doesn’t get bothered, Didi doesn’t bother anybody, Didi walks just like a Royal Bengal Tiger and if you can catch me, catch me."

Sharing the video, the TMC wrote, "She (Mamata Banerjee) doesn’t flinch. She doesn’t falter. The more you heckle, the fiercer she roars. Mamata Banerjee is a Royal Bengal Tiger!"

Students' federation of India takes responsibility

The Students’ Federation of India in the UK (SFI-UK) issued a statement claiming responsibility for the protests.

"SFI-UK held a demonstration in Kellogg College, Oxford against Mamata Banerjee's speech. We opposed her blatant lies by asking her for evidence of the social development she claims to pioneer. Instead of allowing us to peacefully express our opinions, the police were called... In support of the students and working masses of West Bengal, SFI-UK raised its voice in opposition to Mamata Banerjee and the TMC's corrupt, undemocratic rule," the statement read.

Mamata Banerjee on India’s economic growth

Amit Malviya also shared another video from the event, where Mamata Banerjee participated in a discussion on "Social Development - Girl, Child and Women Empowerment in West Bengal" at Kellogg College.

During the discussion, she disagreed with the claim that India would become the world's largest economy by 2060.

"India has already overtaken the UK; we are now the 6th largest economy, and India is the fifth largest economy. Soon, it will be the third largest economy in the world. By 2060, it is predicted that it will be the first economy in the world," the host of the discussion remarked. Mamata Banerjee responded, "I will differ that."

Malviya criticised her remarks, saying, "West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has a problem with India becoming the world's largest economy... This is truly shameful. She is a disgrace to the constitutional office she holds. Who behaves like this on foreign soil?"

ANI