TMC says she received late invite, University claims sent 20 days in advance
Team News Riveting
Kolkata, December 24
In yet another act of arrogance, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee skipped the centenary celebrations of the Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan citing “misguiding” reasons.
The event was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Addressing a press briefing at Calcutta, state minister and party leader Bratya Basu claimed, “Mamata Banerjee did not receive any invitation for the centenary meet of Viswa Bharati.”
Refuting the claim, BJP’s IT-Cell chief Amit Malviya tweeted the copy of the invitation letter that the Visva-Bharati vice-chancellor had sent to the Bengal Chief Minister. The invite by Visva-Bharati University Chancellor Bidyut Chakrabarty to Mamata is dated December 4.
The Prime Minister also addressed the event and said Visva-Bharati University presented a strong image of Indian nationalist sentiment during Independence with the guidance of Rabindranath Tagore.
“Guided by Gurudev (Rabindranath Tagore) Visva-Bharati presented a strong image of Indian nationalist sentiment during Independence,” Modi said in his address. Gurudev wanted the entire humanity to benefit from India’s spiritual awakening. Atmanirbhar Bharat vision is also a derivative of this sentiment, he added.
Today we must remember the circumstances which led to the establishment of this university, the Prime Minister stated. “It wasn’t just British rule but in the background, were our rich ideas and history of hundreds of years of the movement,” he added.
Founded by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore in 1921, Visva-Bharati is also the oldest Central University in the country. In May 1951, Visva-Bharati was declared to be a Central University and an Institution of National Importance by an Act of Parliament.
