During the Rashtra Bachao Padyatra in Hooghly, Samrat Nirmal Pak, a member of the Bangiya Hindu Suraksha Samiti, alleged that the recent nationwide student protests were not student-led but orchestrated by anti-national forces. He compared the protesters to “jihadis”, claiming they were fostering division in India, and further claimed that celebrations were held at mosques and dargahs following the resignation of the former Education Minister, which he alleged demonstrated an Islamic conspiracy behind the protests.