SRFTI Student Union admits in statement that it initiated confrontation with the ABGP: Details 

SRFTI Student Union admits in statement that it initiated confrontation with the ABGP: Details 
(Image: Still taken from the video related to the incident)

On 27th September, member of the Leftist students group Student Federation of India (SFI) joined by others, created ruckus at an event organised by the RSS-linked Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP) at the Main Theatre auditorium of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute in Kolkata. The SRFTI Student Union in a statement admitted that it was them who went to the auditorium to protest over the RSS-affiliated body organising a program without their permission and created ruckus. 

In a statement issued on 27th September evening, the SRFTI Student Union issued a statement, saying that they were not informed about permission being granted to the ABGP for conducting a programme at the Main Theatre auditorium. 

“Today, an awareness-cum-organisational event of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP) was held at the Main Theatre of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI). The Student Union and the student body were not informed about the event before permission was granted. A similar event had also reportedly taken place on campus a few months ago without the knowledge of the students,” the SRFTI Student Union said. 

The student body admitted that they first went to the auditorium and attempted to disrupt the ABGP event, which prompted ABGP members to confront the disruptors and remove their posters. 

“At around 2:00 PM, students went to the Main Theatre to put up posters questioning the Institute’s decision to allow such an event without informing the student community. The ABGP members present at the venue confronted the students and attempted to remove them from the theatre. The situation then escalated into physical violence against students,” it added. 

The statement goes on to level one-sided allegations against the ABGP members, even as the visuals of the incident show leftist protestors tearing down banners with Swami Vivekananda’s picture that ABGP had put up. 

Meanwhile, the West Bengal BJP has alleged that the leftist student protestors raised “Go back RSS” slogans and created ruckus. They also tore down posters of Bharat Mata and Swami Vivekananda. 

In an X post, BJP leader Debjit Sarkar wrote, “This is exactly what happened today at Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute. A hall was booked by nationalist organisations for a programme. A group of Urban and Dimagi Naxals then stormed the venue, raised “Go back RSS” slogans, tore down posters and, as the video shows, tore apart and kicked posters bearing images of Bharat Mata and Swami Vivekananda. And yet, these naxals are now trying to play the victim. This has become a familiar pattern: create disruption, insult symbols revered by Bharatiyas, and then portray oneself as the victim when questioned about it.”

“What is equally disturbing is the attempt by sections of the so-called liberal and intellectual establishment to indirectly justify or overlook such behaviour. The people of Bengal and India deserve to see this for what it is: an insult to symbols that represent India’s civilisational and national consciousness. How much longer will such open disrespect for Bharat Mata and Swami Vivekananda be tolerated?” BJP leader Debjit Sarkar added.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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