West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faced a fiery ambush during her address at Kellogg College, Oxford University, on Thursday, March 27, as a clutch of students disrupted her speech with protests over post-poll violence and the RG Kar College scandal.

The outburst, erupting mid-talk on “Social Development of Women, Children, and Marginalised Sections,” jolted the packed auditorium but failed to rattle the seasoned TMC leader.

Midway through touting industrial strides like Tata’s TCS investments, Banerjee was confronted by protesters wielding placards and shouting about the Kolkata hospital rape-murder case and alleged 2023 election violence. Unfazed, she quipped, “You’re welcoming me—thank you! I’ll feed you sweets!” When RG Kar was raised, she countered, “Speak louder, I can’t hear. That case is sub-judice, with the Central government now, not us.” Firmly, she added, “Don’t do politics here—go to Bengal and fight me there.”

Addressing a heckler as “brother,” she jabbed, “Tell your party to grow stronger and take me on,” dismissing Jadavpur University gripes with, “Don’t lie—I sympathize, but save it for home.”

The audience, including ex-cricketer Sourav Ganguly, erupted in applause, drowning out the dissenters, who were ushered out by organizers and police. Banerjee wrapped her speech, spotlighting schemes like Swasthya Saathi and Kanyashree, unfazed.

Kellogg College apologized, but Banerjee shrugged it off: “You’ve fired me up to return! Didi walks like a Royal Bengal Tiger—catch me if you can!” Analysts say her cool-headed defiance on foreign turf has only boosted her global stature.