West Bengal BJP questions Iftar celebrations in State-run colleges, universities

BJP questions Iftar parties in West Bengal educational institutions, accusing TMC of religious polarization for votes.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal has questioned organising of Iftar parties in State-run higher educational institutions.

Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday (March 26, 2025) claimed that Iftar parties inside college and university campuses were being organised by the “Muslims of Trinamool Congress with support from the police and at Mamata Banerjee’s instigation.” 

He claimed that TMC leaders were doing this to consolidate Muslim votes for the next election. “Places like Aliah University in Kolkata have always had Iftar celebrations, we do not object to that. But why are you starting this new trend of holding it in campuses where this did not happen before?” Mr. Adhikari asked.  

Mr. Adhikari said he hoped the same grandeur and importance were seen during the Hindu festivals inside the campuses. 

On March 25, BJP MP Sukanta Majumdar shared a video from Kolkata’s Jadavpur University stating that the entry of Goddess Saraswati is restricted into the campus, but the “liberal left” campus allows Iftar parties. “When it comes to the worship of Goddess Saraswati in the university premises, pseudo-secularists frown upon allegations of religious polarisation... The unofficial Trinamool-Left is promoting this anti-Sanatani Hindu ideology,” his post on social media site X added. 

Debanjan Dey, Students Federation of India, West Bengal State Secretary, told The Hindu that organising festivals inside campus was not new, and all religious groups had participated in diverse festivals in Bengal’s colleges. 

“Be it Iftar or Saraswati Puja, these are festivals for all. This new narrative by BJP is only to destroy the social fabric of Bengal and all for the bigger political agenda of winning the elections in 2026,” Mr. Dey added.