Left student organisations protest screening of Bengal files at JU campus

KOLKATA: A proposed screening of filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri's controversial film 'The Bengal Files' at Jadavpur University campus on August 16 has triggered opposition from left-leaning student organisations.

The right-wing Nationalist Students' Front (NSF), which plans to organise the on-campus event, claimed on Thursday that it has secured permission from the university administration. However, an official said the Jadavpur University authorities are yet to take a decision on the matter.

The film, based on the 1946 Great Calcutta killings after direct action day, is likely to be screened at the Triguna Sen Auditorium on Sunday, claimed the NSF.

NSF spokesperson Somsurya Banerjee claimed the university's Film Studies department had indicated that the film could be screened and that the organisation had subsequently received official permission from the administration, but the university authorities refused to comment.

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SFI opposes movie screening at Jadavpur University

"I think it is for the right of students to think, question and decide for themselves," Banerjee said. The proposed screening, however, has drawn objections from the left Students' Federation of India (SFI) of CPI(M)and the Revolutionary Students' Federation (RSF) of CPI(ML) L, which have raised concerns over possible disruption of the campus environment.

SFI's Jadavpur University local committee secretary Abhinaba Basu said the organisation does not support censorship but wanted the university authorities to ensure that the campus remained peaceful and that a film having a narrative of polarisation and division not be screened here.

RSF's JU unit secretary Indranuj Ray wrote to the vice-chancellor opposing permission for the screening, saying such an event could affect the university's secular and inclusive atmosphere of amity.

A university official confirmed having received the letter from NSF but said the authorities are yet to take a call on the issue. "We cannot comment on this," he said.