On October 14, 21-year-old Rajashree Chattopadhyay made a post on Facebook regarding the Durga Pujo carnival on Kolkata's Red Road area. What the first-year MTech student didn't know was that her one-line post would land her on a 5-feet high hoarding.

A student at Kolkata's Rajabazar Science College, Rajashree slammed West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee for the carnival: "Bhashane Hari bol! Maanoniya aapni chuloye jaan!"

Speaking to India Today Digital, Rajashree said her protest was about the "amount of money spent on the carnival,". "With unemployment being such a huge issue in our state, I find such investments questionable," she said.

"If this was to promote Bengali heritage, I don't think a few hand-picked clubs can do justice to that," said Rajashree.

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Rajashree's Facebook post. Source: Rajashree Chattopadhyay/ Facebook Rajashree's Facebook post. Source: Rajashree Chattopadhyay/ Facebook



ON A HOARDING FOR DISSENT

Two days later, Rajashree received a shocking call from her neighbour. Her picture, along with the words "Tibro dhikkar" (Shame on you) was up on a hoarding.

It was actually a screenshot of her Facebook post, along with her picture and other details, blown up into a 5-feet tall hoarding, hanging at the corner of a road near Rajashree's house in Clive House, Dum Dum.

"When my parents found out about the hoarding, they thought I had done something terrible," said Rajashree. Soon, a group of women (who Rajashree says were Trinamool Congress party members) came knocking at her door, demanding an apology for her criticism of the chief minister.

"These people have known me since I was a child, now they are behaving in such a way," said Rajashree. "My point is, if you have a problem with what I have to say, talk to me. My parents and I were shocked by this action."

A supporter of SFI, Rajashree said she has refused to apologise for her statement. She also refused to lodge a complaint against the hoarding, which has now been taken down.

After the news hit social media, people have come forward both in support and against Rajashree's stance.

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Peoples' reaction to Rajashree's post. Source: Mayukh Biswas/ Facebook Peoples' reaction to Rajashree's post. Source: Mayukh Biswas/ Facebook



WHO DID THIS?

Reports have it that a citizen forum (Nagorik Samaj) had made the hoarding to react to Rajashree's criticism with criticism. However, Rajashree disagrees.

"There is no such forum in our locality," she told India Today Digital. "I'm quite certain there are TMC leaders behind this,".

Rajashree's post, which is still up and open to public view, had not exactly gone viral, garnering only some 160 likes and four shares.

"What is shocking me is how a Facebook post of mine, which I shared with my friends, get the attention of the ruling party. I feel I'm being stalked."

Rajashree said she had not filed any complaint for the hoarding to be taken down."I have heard that Dum Dum MLA Bratya Basu had asked the local counselor to take it down,".

"I haven't filed any complaints this time, but if it happens again, I will," she said.

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