‘Ultra-naxalism is still thriving in colleges, universities of Bengal’: Agnimitra

While the Centre has claimed that it has wiped the country of Naxalism, West Bengal Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul said in an exclusive coversation with The Statesman, that the idea of “ultra-nationalism” is still widespread and thriving in some of the higher educational institutions of the state.

“I still feel that ultra-Naxalism is still there in the colleges and universities in Bengal,” Paul said.

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Narrating a gruesome episode from her younger days, when Paul was allegedly assaulted by Jadavpur University seniors at a freshers’ program, she said, “In 2019 when I joined, and I had gone to a freshers’ welcome program in Jadavpur University, I was tortured, beaten by ultra-Naxal students.”

Paul expressed pride that the ABVP, the BJP’s students’ wing has organised the book launch event by BJP national spokesperson Tuhin Sinha at Jadavpur University campus, where the author spoke in detail on Left-Wing Extremism.

The Minister also blamed the previous regimes in power in Bengal for decades of not doing enough to crush elements of radical Left from campuses.

“It is not only about socioeconomic issues, it is about the mindset. Fifty years, the governments which were there in Bengal didn’t encourage nationalism, encouraged these kind of, ‘Bharat tere tukde honge Inshallah, Inshallah’ gangs, and that is the reason we lost so much of our youth,” Paul said.

🎥 | Agnimitra Paul spoke on ABVP’s functioning at Jadavpur University, often regarded as a Left stronghold, and shared her views on alleged Urban Naxalism, the Baruipur rape case, and the incident in which eggs were thrown at CPI(M) leader Minakshi Mukherjee in Sitalkuchi.… pic.twitter.com/Y1fnfQrWtD

— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) July 7, 2026

Expressing optimism in the Suvendu Adhikari government, she said, “I’m very optimistic of my dynamic chief minister and our government. Politicization in that way needs to be completely barred from universities and colleges, and children needs to be given a proper direction.”

Referring to the alleged claims by the opposition that a BJP supporter arrested in the Baruipur rape-murder case was let loose by the police, Paul called them “fake hypicrisy” of the Left parties.

“Because of these lies and fake hypocrisy of the Left, the Left is vanquished. Not only Naxalism, the Left from Bengal has been vanquished,” she said.

Continuing his attack against the Left, Paul referred to the party’s poor handling of 1990 Bantala rape case in which three health officers were allegedly raped.

“Left needs to talk about truth at least once. First of all, you know, uh, before commenting on others, left and Mohammad Salim and other people needs to answer about Bantola. And stop spreading lies,” she said.

“Because our karyakarta, Shantanu Mondal, was the first one to catch hold of one rapist. He did a Live from his Facebook account…He never supported the rapist. He rescued the rapist from the public, otherwise he would have been lynched. He handed him over to the police station,” Paul explained.

Speaking about the recent ‘egg attack’ on CPI’s Minakshi Mukherjee on Tuesday, she categorically mentioned that her government and her party is against such incidents.

“We never support this ‘democracy’ that I call of throwing eggs. We don’t support it,” the Asansol Dakshin MLA mentioned.

Howver, she claimed that the Left had gone to the spot to instigate people over there.

“I don’t know why she went there. She has all the right to go. Anybody has all the right to go. But if you want to go to Baruipur and do politics over there, with the Muslims over there, we will not allow that,” Paul said.

The Minister however mentioned that the Muslim residents in the area are now aware of the duplicity of the Left.

“It’s Muslims who were by the Left side. Today, the Muslims have realized that the Left have utilized them. The TMC have utilized them. Now the BJP has, are going to give them their rights. They have understood that,” she said.

“But still I will say we are sorry. If somebody has done it, it’s a wrong. Do not throw eggs on people,” Paul mentioned.