Archive · 22 Aug 2026
BJP Leaders Clash Over Jadavpur University Campus Unrest
A fight broke out between student groups at Jadavpur University.
Some people said the university emblem was damaged or disrespected.
BJP leader Dilip Ghosh responded by warning that strong action could happen again.
BJP leader Swapan Dasgupta said the emblem was important and criticized the confrontation.
He also said political outsiders should not interfere in student matters.
The ABVP denied damaging the emblem and blamed Left student groups.
Other BJP leaders gave different opinions about what happened.
This created a debate about whether the response should be forceful or restrained.
Dilip Ghosh warned of another “surgical strike” if anti-national activities or slogans recur at Jadavpur University.
Swapan Dasgupta condemned the alleged disrespect of the university emblem designed by Nandalal Bose.
Dasgupta urged students to decide their own course and political outsiders to avoid interference and provocation.
The ABVP denied damaging the emblem and accused SFI and other Left groups of framing it.
BJP leaders Samik Bhattacharya and Sarbori Mukherjee took differing positions, while opposition figures disputed the BJP’s contrasting messages.
- Who
- Jadavpur University students, BJP leaders including Dilip Ghosh, Swapan Dasgupta, Samik Bhattacharya and Sarbori Mukherjee, and student groups including ABVP and SFI.
- What
- Political and student disagreements followed campus violence and allegations that the Jadavpur University emblem was damaged or disrespected.
- When
- The incident occurred on Thursday, with statements reported on Friday; an earlier campus confrontation referenced by Ghosh took place in September 2019.
- Where
- Jadavpur University campus, West Bengal.
- Why
- The dispute centered on physical confrontation between student groups, the alleged insult to the university emblem, and claims of political interference and provocation.
Calls for forceful political action
Calls for restraint and non-interference
Response to campus unrest
Calls for forceful political action
Dilip Ghosh warned that a similar “surgical strike” would take place if anti-national activities or slogans emerged again. Sarbori Mukherjee also threatened “Tandav” while supporting the ABVP position.
Calls for restraint and non-interference
Swapan Dasgupta condemned the student confrontation and said students should decide their own course, with political people from all sides staying away from provocation.
Responsibility for emblem damage
Calls for forceful political action
The ABVP denied responsibility and alleged that SFI and other Left student organizations damaged the emblem to falsely implicate it. Samik Bhattacharya likewise called the allegation a planned conspiracy.
Calls for restraint and non-interference
Dasgupta said the emblem had been disrespected, regardless of whether it could be repaired, and criticized the incident as an affront to Jadavpur’s history and significance.
Meaning of BJP’s differing statements
Calls for forceful political action
CPM leader Sujan Chakraborty said the contrasting BJP statements reflected a “face and mask” strategy rather than genuine disagreement.
Calls for restraint and non-interference
Political scientist Biswanath Chakraborty said leaders such as Dasgupta and Bhattacharya were responding more responsibly and with greater understanding of Bengal’s culture than Ghosh and Mukherjee.
- University emblem
- The emblem was designed by Nandalal Bose and was allegedly damaged or disrespected.
- Dilip Ghosh’s warning
- Ghosh said another “surgical strike” could occur if anti-national activities or slogans returned to the campus.
- Swapan Dasgupta’s position
- Dasgupta condemned the alleged emblem insult and urged political outsiders to avoid interfering.
- ABVP response
- The ABVP denied insulting the emblem and accused SFI and other Left groups of damaging it and framing the organization.
- 2019 reference
- Sources identified Ghosh’s earlier “surgical strike” as occurring in September 2019 after violence involving Babul Supriyo.
- Other BJP reaction
- Samik Bhattacharya called the allegation against ABVP a planned conspiracy, while saying Sarbori Mukherjee could visit the campus as an elected MLA.