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🇮🇳 India /Elections & Politics

Political Graffiti Returns to Jadavpur University After Walls Were Whitewashed Over Chief Minister’s Remarks

From Hindustan Times · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Students from Left unions repainted political graffiti at Jadavpur University after contractors whitewashed the campus walls.
  • The Students Federation of India’s Jadavpur unit called the action “Reclaim Your Wall” after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the university would not remain a free ground for Maoist sympathisers.
  • The campus remains politically tense after an alleged clash involving ABVP members, damage to a university emblem and a police complaint with no arrests.

Political graffiti returned to Jadavpur University one day after the walls were painted white. Students from Left-wing unions used aerosol paint and brushes rather than holding a demonstration, according to a university professor.

The Students Federation of India’s Jadavpur unit announced the “Reclaim Your Wall” programme on social media after a contractor working for the university’s maintenance department covered the existing graffiti. Members of other Left student unions also joined the repainting.

Reclaim Your Wall

— Students Federation of India, Jadavpur unitThe student group used the phrase for its programme to repaint the campus graffiti.

The dispute follows remarks by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who said his government would not allow Jadavpur University to remain a free ground for Maoist sympathisers. The campus has also faced tensions after a university emblem was damaged on August 20, when members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s student wing, the ABVP, allegedly tried to enter following a clash with Left student supporters the previous night.

Members of the CPI(M)’s student front did not hold any demonstration on Monday. Instead, its members picked up cans of aerosol paint and brushes. Members of the other Left student unions also took part.

— Jadavpur University professorThe professor described how the students repainted the walls.

The university filed a police complaint over the damage, but no arrests have been made. The emblem was designed by painter Nandalal Bose, who also drew sketches for the first copy of India’s Constitution, and its damage drew criticism from civil society. State Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta called the incident uncalled for in a video statement.

No political party issued a statement after the graffiti reappeared.

I know the disease. I also know the medicine.

— Suvendu AdhikariThe chief minister made the remark during a BJP event outside the university campus.
About this summary

Originally published by Hindustan Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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