Kolkata/IBNS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's claim that she has been invited to deliver a lecture at the Oxford University on March 27 stirred a row after the opposition parties in the state accused the veteran politician of peddling a lie.

The row started first after the CPI-M in its party mouthpiece Ganashakti claimed the Oxford University had no clue to such an event and Mamata was going to London upon being invited by a Gujarat industrialist.

The report claimed the Chief Minister was invited by Kellogg College of Oxford University and industrialist Karan Bilimoria, who is the founder of Cobra Beer.

CPI-M leader Sujan Chakraborty posted on X, "Is the East Georgia fake PhD degree syndrome still on? The invitation from Oxford University is fake, similar to the PhD degree from East Georgia University."

The matter was quickly taken up by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which called Mamata's claim a "half truth".

Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari also linked the row to Mamata's past fake degree episode.

Very early in her career, Mamata Banerjee had claimed she had done PhD. from East Georgia University but later it was found no institution with such a name exists.

Adhikari wrote on X, "A 'Left Liberal Media' Misinformation Campaign is currently propagating that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's is about to participate in a discussion at the Oxford University on March 27, 2025.

"Well it's as much genuine as her FAKE PhD degree from East Georgia University. The truth is that Mamata Banerjee will speak on ‘Social Development: Empowerment of Women and Children’ at the Kellogg College. Kellogg College is one of the affiliated Colleges of the Oxford University, just like 35 others. Mr. Jonathan Michie; President of Kellogg College, attended the BGBS event at Kolkata in 2023 and extended the invitation."

"I have annexed a snapshot of a X Post, of the other participant of the said Kellogg College event; Lord Karan Bilimoria; founder of Cobra Beer. See for yourself and figure out the chronology.

"Now, let me give a context to it. If someone is attending an event at the City College, would you call it a City College Event or a Calcutta University event? There are more than 150 Colleges affiliated with the Calcutta University. So, labelling one College Event as the University Event is not only an exaggeration but a PR Campaign to befool people."

The attack was further heightened by BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya calling the Chief Minister "a habitual liar".

Malviya wrote on X, "Mamata Banerjee is a habitual LIAR. From a FAKE degree to faking injuries to fabricating invitations, she has mastered the art of deception. She has such a penchant for falsehoods that she once claimed to have earned a Ph.D. from Georgia University—a university that never even existed. Now, she has been caught faking an invitation to Oxford. The truth?

"Mamata Banerjee will be speaking on “Social Development: Empowerment of Women and Children” at Kellogg College, one of Oxford University’s 36 affiliated colleges—not at the university itself. Such misrepresentation tarnishes India’s reputation. Mamata Banerjee should apologize to the people of West Bengal. It would be a travesty if Oxford University does not permanently ban her as a speaker, even in the future."

Amid the controversy, Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) swung into defense calling the Left and BJP's claims as fake.

Hitting back, TMC spokesperson Debangshu Bhattacharya wrote on Facebook, "While Ganashakti is claiming Mamata Banerjee is not invited to Oxford University, the university has shared her schedule in its official website. Oxford University should call CPI-M to talk on how to spread fake news."

Slamming the BJP, Debangshu wrote on X, "First Oxford, now LSE and QMUL! Smt. @MamataOfficial continues to receive global recognition, while @BJP4India leaders fume. Rather than questioning her invitations, they should reflect on why no one wants to hear them speak. Leadership commands respect, propaganda does not!"