Jadavpur University still tense, CM Suvendu Adhikari says probe ‘anti-national’ graffiti on campus

Jadavpur University still tense, CM Suvendu Adhikari notes probe 'anti-national' graffiti on campus The CM's directive came shortly after a session called by the university's vice-chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharjee of all the stakeholders concluded in a stalemate on Monday night.

Key points

• 6 min read Kolkata Updated: Aug 25, 2026 05: 13 AM IST.
• The ABVP's march, called "Save Jadavpur, Save Education", began from Golpark and concluded at 8B bus stand in Jadavpur.
• The West Bengal Administration strictly follows a zero-tolerance policy towards anti-national activities, especially on campuses of educational institutions.
• A marathon six-hour-long session called by vice-chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharjee concluded in a stalemate, with students claiming that their demands were not met.
• Five days after the clash, the university turned into a fortress on Monday as both the rival SFI and the ABVP took out separate marches.

6 min read Kolkata Updated: Aug 25, 2026 05: 13 AM IST. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. (Express File Photo).

Against the backdrop of the simmering tension at Kolkata's Jadavpur University (JU) after last week's clash between ABVP and SFI supporters, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday expressed "concerns" over "anti-national wall graffiti and drawings" on the campus, and directed the state university authorities to probe and carry out on-ground physical verification of students.

In a post on X, Adhikari wrote, "The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) has received concerning videos and photographic representations through the CM's Grievance Cell from conscientious Students of Jadavpur University, reporting instances of objectionable, sociopathic, violent and Anti-National wall graffiti & drawings inside the Arts Division Boys Hostel premises."

"Educational Institutions are sacred spaces of learning, academic excellence and nation-building. Under no circumstances will campus premises be permitted to be applied as platforms for spreading deranged propaganda and Anti-India sentiment, " the chief minister wrote and asked the university and Principal Secretary of the Higher Education Department to initiate an "immediate inquiry by conducting an on-ground physical verification of the Arts Division Boys Hostel area to identify the individuals involved".

"The West Bengal Administration strictly follows a zero-tolerance policy towards anti-national activities, especially on campuses of educational institutions. West Bengal's educational institutions must remain centers of merit and discipline, not grounds for divisive rhetoric and unsocial activities, " the chief minister continued.

Hours before that, at a press conference, the chief minister remarked "there was no problem" at JU. Days after the university witnesses clashed between ABVP, the RSS' students' wing, and the CPI(M)'s SFI, the chief minister remarked, "Normal classes have been held at Jadavpur University. There is no difficulty there."

He, nevertheless, went on that "things like Red Salute to (Maoist leader) Kishenji will not be allowed on the campus" and confirmed that he would visit the campus next Friday and sing "Vande Mataram" there.

Earlier in the day, Trinamool Congress chief and former chief minister Mamata Banerjee had hit out at the ruling BJP, accusing it of orchestrating the unrest on JU campus. "The BJP created mayhem at Jadavpur University. The JU emblem was trampled and destroyed. The university is among the toppers in national and international rankings. Even though I may have differences of opinion with Jadavpur students, I respect them, " she remarked through Facebook Live. V-C meet: No headway.

Meanwhile, a marathon six-hour-long session called by vice-chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharjee concluded in a stalemate, with students claiming that their demands were not met.

"We were speaking to the vice-chancellor. He listened to us only halfway and suddenly wanted to leave. We tried to stop him since our demands have still not been fully addressed, " a SFI member stated after the session that stretched till 9 pm.

Ahead of the session, the vice-chancellor stated there was a delay in lodging a police complaint over the arson on the campus in the early hours of August 20 since he could not reach the campus immediately after the unrest.

Bhattacharjee informed mediapersons that the university authorities filed the police complaint on August 21, leading to registration of multiple FIRs, and will submit all evidence and CCTV footage to the police for investigation.

"We will reconstitute the committee again today, " he remarked, referring to the university's internal committee to probe last Thursday's incident.

For context, a general session of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Students' Union (FETSU) led to the clash between members of the RSS-affiliated ABVP and Left-leaning student groups at the University here early on Thursday, leaving a number of students injured. Both sides accused each other of bringing outsiders into the campus. Campus turns into a fortress.

Five days after the clash, the university turned into a fortress on Monday as both the rival SFI and the ABVP took out separate marches. The university gates were locked from inside by the administration to prevent any untoward incident. There were three layers of security outside the university gate, with RAF and police forming the outermost layers, followed by barricades and women police personnel.

For context, the ABVP's march, called "Save Jadavpur, Save Education", began from Golpark and concluded at 8B bus stand in Jadavpur. By contrast, SFI's protest march began from Sealdah and concluded on College Street in central Kolkata.

RSS general secretary of Bengal unit, Jisnu Basu. This person took part in the ABVP march, raised questions over the leakage of CCTV footage of Thursday's campus violence. "How did the CCTV footage obtain leaked and become public? It was supposed to be given to the police, but how was it leaked?"

Meanwhile, the SFI questioned the police's "inaction", asking why no arrests have been created so far. "Why is it taking so much time for the police to investigate the BJP politicians' role? Instead, we are seeing that the leader has been created the head of the governing body of two colleges, " a SFI member stated.

As sources indicate in the university, the police had informed the JU registrar that they would collect footage from around 60 CCTV cameras to know what happened on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday.

For now, jadavpur University still tense, CM Suvendu Adhikari says probe 'anti remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.