Against the expanding backdrop of Operation Sindoor, Medical College Kolkata student unions condemn professor’s remarks
by Thoughtfox staff
The Medical College Students’ Union (MCSU) of Medical College Kolkata has issued a strong condemnation of alleged recent comments made by Dr. Bijan Adhikary, a professor at the institution, following an incident involving a medical intern.
According to the MCSU’s statement (posted on its Facebook profile on May 17, 2025), Dr. Adhikary criticized the attire of a medical intern and referred to him as a ‘terrorist’, prompting outrage among the student body. The union described the remarks as ‘rotten preconceived notions’ that are inconsistent with the values of inclusivity and respect upheld by the college.
MCSU reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy toward discrimination and harassment, calling for ‘exemplary punishment’ and denouncing ‘divisive and communal ideas.’ The union is currently weighing its options and has pledged to take appropriate action.
‘We strongly believe that all individuals, regardless of their background, religion, ethnicity, or appearance, have the right to pursue their studies in an atmosphere free from discrimination, harassment, and prejudice’, the statement read.
The union reiterated its commitment to fostering a respectful and inclusive academic environment for all students.
The intern was on duty when the professor made the comment, another statement claims
MCSU’s stance is echoed by the Medical College Democratic Student’s Association (MCDSA)—another students’ organisation on the same campus.
Citing the incident, MCDSA asserted in its own statement, also posted on May 17 on its Facebook profile, that the students reject ‘all forms of such discrimination & communalism’, pointing out that it has already taken up the matter with the college—and a committee including two student representatives has also been formed to investigate the professor’s alleged conduct.
Demanding ‘strictest action’ against the professor, MCDSA’s statement notes that the investigation will start in the coming week of May 19, 2025.
Notably, the statement also claims that the intern was on duty when the professor—an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist—called him a ‘terrorist’ based upon his attire.
This is a digital download of Medical College Students’ Union’s statement, posted on its Facebook profile on May 17, 2025, on the brewing controversy relating to Dr. Bijan Adhikary.
This is a digital download of Medical College Democratic Student’s Association’s statement, posted on its Facebook profile on May 17, 2025, on the brewing controversy relating to Dr. Bijan Adhikary.
This brewing controversy is one among many similar or more serious incidents of alleged discrimination against Muslims that India has witnessed since Operation Sindoor—India’s retaliatory attack on Pakistan following a terrorist massacre (on April 22, 2025) of 26 non-Muslim Indian men in Pahalgam, which it blames on Pakistan.
Only three days ago, on May 15, the Supreme Court of India lambasted a provincial minister, Vijay Shah, for implying in a public speech that Colonel Sofiya Qureshi was a ‘sister’ of those (read Pakistanis and/or Muslims) who had sent the terrorists to Pahalgam. Colonel Qureshi, it should be noted, has a ‘Muslim’ name and was ironically one of the three leaders of Operation Sindoor; Shah’s exceedingly crude speech in Hindi was supposed to be a compliment to India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi for having included Qureshi in the military panel that directed India’s retaliation against Pakistan.
Correction: A correction was made on May 19, 2025 to the last paragraph of this report, which previously stated, based upon English-language media reports, that Vijay Shah had ‘called’ Colonel Qureshi ‘a sister of terrorists’; a second sentence was also added to the paragraph for clarification. Shah’s speech, which is in Hindi, in fact does not name Colonel Qureshi; and nor does it use the Hindi word for ‘terrorist’ or the word ‘Muslim’—but it descriptively captures actions that would be considered ‘terroristic’ and implicitly ties them to Muslims. Thoughtfox regrets the error.