KOLKATA: A video clip of a fuming

walking out of a

on national television after calling students "CPM cadres and Maoists" went viral in social media over the weekend, spelling a public relations disaster for the ruling party and the chief minister herself.

managers had a torrid time defending the CM as public opinion flowed freely on Facebook and Twitter. People in the city, across India and various parts of the world expressed shock, surprise, anger and exasperation at the CM's vitriolic attack on students seated among the Town Hall audience for 'Question Time Didi', an interactive session organized by

. There was no official word from the government but it was perhaps the mood in cyberspace that prompted the Trinamool to choose the same platform to make itself heard. Spokesperson and

led the party's damage-control exercise online and rued that a few mistakes were being "amplified" at the cost of the government's good work.

But with the channel airing the programme on Friday and Saturday and the internet video playing across office-rooms, coffee-table meets and in hundreds of households as people shared, tweeted and retweeted the link, there was little the Trinamool managers could do. The stunned look on Taniya Bhardwaj's face, as the CM castigated her, said much more about the state of Bengal than the sugar-coated explanations the Trinamool offered.

Taniya, a political science student, told TOI on Saturday, "I come from Presidency, and we have always been encouraged to question. Politicians have several tools. The CM could have refused to answer my question. But she didn't do that, and she labelled me and several of us, and it didn't help her at all. It made me the centre of attention, which I didn't want."

During the discussion at Town Hall last Friday, Taniya had merely wanted to know whether Trinamool leaders like Madan Mitra and Arabul Islam should act more responsibly. But the CM thundered back, "You are a CPM cadre. There are 50 people in the audience and you have been picked to ask these sorts of questions. You have narrowed down the discussion to only three points. The CPM and Maoists have come together and are planting stories. They are Maoist students. I refuse to answer such questions. I will reply to the common man. You belong to the SFI cadre." Then, she took off her lapel microphone and walked out.

On Saturday, the programme's anchor and CNN IBN's deputy editor Sagarika Ghose wrote on Twitter, "Special Branch calls CNNIBN Kolkata and asks for the telephone numbers of kids." She added, "Taniya's a rockstar. Really can't figure how a question about that Park Street rape case makes one a Maoist!" Ghose was back on Twitter on Sunday to allay fears of any police action against the students. "Big relief! TMC and WB govt: No action whatsoever will be taken against the students on our show. Nothing to worry," she tweeted. Kolkata Police special commissioner Shivaji Ghosh, too, said he was wasn't aware of any police action.

But even as the state machinery tried to make the right noises, Trinamool leaders were peppered with questions about the safety of Taniya. "Can u assure me your Govt will not take action agst Taniya," said a tweet addressed to O'Brien. "Action? Perish the thought," was O'Brien's reassuring reply. Taniya, too, said she hadn't received any phone call from "anyone that scared me". "There weren't any police enquiries or anything that made me feel I did anything wrong. My friends and relatives have only said they are happy and proud," she said, adding, "She (Mamata) had the opportunity to woo people our age at the show. But she became impulsive and angry at someone like me, who would possibly be half her age."

The Trinamool's firefighting began with a barrage of tweets from O'Brien. One said, "Dignified silence taken as weakness on Twitter". Another said, "CNN-IBN has a 40 min 1 on 1 interview with

CM recorded in her office. No promos, no snippets, not a word out of the channel ... Promise: Audience reflecting all shades of opinion in Bengal. Delivery: Lazy pickings from 2, 3 colleges. Is channel rigour only for Delhi? There's a diff between legitimate, tough questioning & an ambush. Channels don't try this with chums in Delhi. Grassroot leaders easy game? Earthy politicians are human & will show emotion. If you want actors who play by anchor's rules, stick to interviewing Delhi-based 'leaders".

But as the reactions poured in, O'Brien softened. A tweet by @Ssarwahi said, "We're not media who want to convict politicians. Admit mistake move on." O'Brien replied, "Agree. That's y CNN-IBN given 1on 1 intv after incident." He then put this in context, "First anniv of bengal govt 3 to 4 mistakes get amplified. But good work? Read abt the work & then decide for yourself."

The programme on Friday had started cordially enough with a beaming Mamata saying how she likes to share space with the people rather than occupy a chair on the dais. The audience comprised members of the Trinamool camp like thespians Saoli Mitra and Arpita Das and artist Suvaprasanna as well as professors and students from institutions like Jadavpur University, Presidency University and IIMC. Asked about her reaction to

naming her as one of the most powerful women on earth, Mamata attributed her success to the people of the state. The first couple of questions went off quite well.

Then, S Munshi, a former IIMC professor, wanted to know whether human rights were being protected. The CM replied, "Maoists can't be tolerated. We love democracy and not goons and guns." For the next question, when the anchor selected a student from Jadavpur University, Mamata reacted sharply. Why only Jadavpur University? Aren't there more universities here like Rabindra Bharati? But the girl went ahead and asked the CM about the Park Street rape case. By then, tension was building up at the venue. Mamata went ahead nonetheless and said the chargesheet had been filed. Taniya's question was next. "I have nothing to do with the Maoists. She put a label on me just like she put a label on the Park Street rape victim. I didn't say anything to provoke her," the student said after Mamata left in a huff.

Soon, the social media was buzzing. From "I must tell you this, you are a CPM cadre! is going to be my favorite Mamata Banerjee quote ever", to "Kudos girl! to Taniya Bhardwaj" and even "Being a CM it is her duty to answer any question, be it on Maoist or fascist," started doing the rounds of Facebook.