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A complaint asking police to register an FIR against the editorial team of Anandabazar Patrika, including two named journalists, was received at Bowbazar Police Station on Thursday (August 27). It objects to the paper’s use of the phrase “gerua gundami” or saffron hooliganism, in a front-page report on the August 21 clashes at Jadavpur University.

The complainant, Sanjay Shastri Maharaj, describes himself in the letter as a saffron-clad Hindu monk. He argues that saffron is a religious symbol rather than a political one, associated with renunciation, sacrifice and the Sanatan tradition, and that pairing it with the word “hooliganism” went “beyond criticism of any particular political organisation or ideology” and hurt the religious sentiments of “crores of Hindus”.

The complaint follows public criticism of the newspaper by senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders. Speaking at a televised conclave after the report appeared, Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, said the paper was entitled to write “BJP’s rampage” or “ABVP’s rampage” but not “gerua gundami,” and asked, “Do you know the meaning of gerua? You will get your answer.” He did not name Anandabazar Patrika.