Archive · 29 Aug 2026
Suvendu Adhikari’s Jadavpur Speech Deepens Campus Political Clash
Suvendu Adhikari gave an angry speech outside Jadavpur University.
He said some students were behaving in ways he considered anti-national.
He mentioned slogans about freedom, Palestine, Kashmir, and a Maoist leader.
He also accused some students of using drugs.
He told the ABVP student group to bring a similar political change to Jadavpur that it had brought to JNU.
Some students and Left-wing groups said the speech sounded like a threat against campus dissent.
The ABVP welcomed the speech and said it would campaign against what it called “dimaagi Naxals.”
Teachers largely avoided commenting because many said they had not heard the speech.
The dispute came after an alleged ABVP raid and damage to part of the university emblem.
Suvendu Adhikari threatened Jadavpur University students, declaring that only “them or us” would remain.
He accused students of anti-national slogans, support for Palestine and Maoist leader Kishanji, and drug use.
Suvendu urged the ABVP to teach Jadavpur University the “lesson” it had taught JNU.
Students and Left groups called the speech intimidation, while the ABVP said it had received a green signal to challenge Left influence.
The speech followed alleged ABVP vandalism at the campus, complaints against two professors, and years of stalled university elections.
- Who
- Suvendu Adhikari, Jadavpur University students and teachers, the ABVP, and Left-wing groups including the SFI and CPM.
- What
- Adhikari delivered a nationalist speech containing threats against students and warnings to the Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association.
- When
- Friday evening; the speech came eight days after alleged ABVP supporters raided the campus on August 20.
- Where
- Outside Gate No. 2 of Jadavpur University, near the 8B bus stand in Jadavpur.
- Why
- Adhikari said he wanted to promote nationalism and confront what he described as Communist, anti-national, and drug-related activity on campus.
Critics of the Speech
Supporters of the Speech
Threats and campus dissent
Critics of the Speech
Students, the SFI, and CPM leader Sujan Chakraborty described the speech as intimidation and objected to the “us or them” framing.
Supporters of the Speech
Adhikari said the government would confront students and groups he associated with anti-national slogans, Communist ideology, and disorder.
Role of the ABVP
Critics of the Speech
Critics linked the speech to concerns that the ABVP was trying to suppress dissent through a model associated with JNU.
Supporters of the Speech
ABVP leader Neelkantha Bhattacharjee said the organization would campaign against “dimaagi Naxal” influence and restore peace on campus.
Campus politics and elections
Critics of the Speech
SFI state secretary Debanjan Dey said Adhikari should ensure free and fair university elections instead of using intimidation.
Supporters of the Speech
Adhikari and BJP supporters argued that Left-wing influence had contributed to lawlessness and that nationalism needed to be strengthened at Jadavpur.
- Speaker
- Suvendu Adhikari
- Venue
- Outside Gate No. 2, Jadavpur University
- Main declaration
- Adhikari said, “It’s either them or us; only one shall remain.”
- Political appeal
- He asked the ABVP to teach Jadavpur University the lesson it had taught JNU in Delhi.
- Traffic impact
- Raja SC Mullick Road was blocked from Jadavpur police station to Sulekha between 4pm and 6pm.
- Campus incident
- The university emblem’s outer ring came off after alleged ABVP supporters struck Gate No. 4 and climbed onto it on August 20.
- Police complaint
- The ABVP complained to Jadavpur police about alleged involvement by professors Rajyeswar Sinha and Partha Pratim Roy in damage to the emblem.
