‘Anti-national’ graffiti in university whitewashed after West Bengal CM’s ultimatum

Whitewashing graffiti at Jadavapur University. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Graffiti at Calcutta’s Jadavpur University has been whitewashed after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari issued a stern warning to weed out “anti-national” elements from the campus. Slogans in support of Palestine and Maoist leader Kishenji were erased from the walls of the JU Arts hostel.

An older slogan at the open-air theater was also covered in white paint, which read: “Fascists don’t deserve democracy. They deserve a bullet in the head”. A portrait of American civil rights activist Audre Lorde was also deleted. Graffiti and poster culture have been prevalent in Jadavpur University for decades and are inseparable from university politics.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday (August 28, 2026) stressed that Jadavpur University is a recognized institution and said it will not allow anti-national slogans anywhere. Mr. Adhikari also delved into some of the messages painted on the walls of the university.

“What do you want Azadi? ‘Kashmir Mange Azadi,'” Mr. Adhikari said at a public meeting near the university. According to the Chief Minister, during Operation Sindoor, students held rallies not in support of the country but calling for an end to the war. “Go and write slogans calling for the surrender of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. It is ours and must be returned!” he added

“Varsity restrained

The university said the painting was part of a regular cleanup and wanted to avoid being drawn into any controversy. Painting over the graffiti started on Saturday (29/08/2026) and continued until Sunday (30/08/2026). There were no protests against this development, although some students, especially those associated with left-wing unions, spoke out against the move.

CPI(M) president Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, a former mayor of Kolkata, criticized the move and said the campuses encourage free thinking. “Campuses are places where young people are encouraged to think freely and exchange ideas. No amount of whitewashing can stop that,” Mr Bhattacharya said.

Jadavpur University became a flashpoint for right-wing versus left-wing politics after a group of ABVP supporters forced their way into the campus on August 19 and tried to destroy posters and burn flags of the left-wing union. The university has been in turmoil ever since.

Published – 30 Aug 2026 22:13 IST