The protesting students were trying to push past a barricade standing between them and Esplanade East road that leads to Raj Bhavan.

To the left of the protesters was a platform of the Trinamul student wing. The protesters had no interest in the platform — until sudden activity caused them to turn their heads. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee was making an appearance.

Some of the protesters, who had so far been shouting “Go Back, Modi”, started chanting “Go Back, Mamata”. They wanted to know why Mamata had allowed Modi to enter Bengal and why she had met him.

Excerpts from what Mamata said to the protesters and her supporters:

Mamata: (Trying to pacify the students, sometimes with folded hands): Please calm down. Eta amader police, Delhi police na. Tomader ar amader lokkho eki. Tomader andolan, amader andolan, eki andolan (This is our police, not Delhi police. Our goals are the same. Your protest, our protest, they are the same protest).

There was nothing we could do. We are a state government. We are an elected government. We did not invite Narendra Modi to any of our programmes. He came with his own SPG. He does not depend on our police.

He did not even use the roadways here. He came by air and travelled by water…. There was nothing we could do.

Protocol

Mamata: There’s a rule in the Constitution — when the PM comes, when the President comes, and when other state dignitaries come, a minister-in-waiting has to be deployed. We deployed Firhad Hakim.

Protocol demands that a minister is sent. Who was sent to receive Modi at the airport? Firhad Hakim, a senior minister from the minorities. Their (the BJP’s) biggest problem is with minorities.

3 invites refused

Mamata: I saw a large number of people stuck in front of Millennium Park. They were unable to go home. I ensured that they could go. After that I went to just one programme although I had been invited to four programmes. I went only to one, to discharge my constitutional obligations.

And I went to meet him (Modi) after seeking an appointment because Rs 28,000 crore is due, which our state is supposed to get.

I don’t know which politician has said this in front of Narendra Modi but I went and told him: “NPR cholbe na, NRC cholbe na.”

BJP design

Mamata: The BJP’s intention is to target members of one particular religion. If one religion is isolated, it becomes easy to target its members. But if all the religions come together, people of all castes and creeds come together, it is difficult to suppress this movement.

In September, we had passed a motion against the NRC and the CAB. We did that in September when others were sleeping.

It is not about passing a resolution. If the central government wants to do something, the state government has to be included too.

When a state government decides at a cabinet meeting that something will not happen, it means it will not happen. The cabinet is supreme.

Campus

Mamata: One particular political party had sent police inside… (a campus) but our police did not enter Visva-Bharati or Jadavpur University. They enter only if called over a law-and-order problem.

Something happened in Jadavpur a few days ago. I did not want to know whose fault it was. Immediately, the DC was sent on leave. Which state will take this kind of action?

I love you but…

Mamata: I have my roots in students’ union (politics). Ami sabai ke bhalobasi. Tar maney ei noy apni 200 jan-ke niye eshe amay chokh rangaben (I love everyone. But that does not mean that you will bring in 200 people and try to intimidate me). Give me an hour and I too will respond with a gathering of 10 lakh.

I came back because I heard there was some problem here. So I came to meet the children, to enquire if they had had their dinner. But here I saw they were all around my stage. Some of them were turning unruly. I came to publicly register my protest tonight against the notification that was issued last night.

Way forward

Mamata: Do you want to ruin the movement or win? Tahole shanti te koro (Then, do it peacefully). Ami tomader pokkhe achhi (I’m on your side).

The protesters later dispersed and went to another part of Esplanade. They squatted there, saying they would hold a vigil through the night.

Mamata made a speech and left.