Kolkata, October 3: West Bengal Governor C. V. Ananda Bose was shown black flags by the members of Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), the student wing of ruling Trinamool Congress, at the University of Calcutta here on Thursday. As soon as the Governor arrived at the university's main campus to distribute certificates to the new PhD holders, the TMCP members, besides waving black flags, shouted "go-back" slogans.
The TMCP members alleged the Governor, who is also the chancellor of the University of Calcutta, has "illegally" appointed a vice-chancellor to the varsity. They also alleged that since the vice-chancellor appointed by the Governor is an acting vice-chancellor, the university's annual convocation cannot be organised without a permanent vice-chancellor. The TMCP activists alleged that the Governor was indirectly organising a "camouflaged" convocation ceremony in the name of the distribution of PhD certificates, which was against the varsity's tradition. West Bengal: TMCP Students Protest Against Governor at University of Calcutta for 'Unconstitutional' Ceremony (Watch Video).
Governor CV Ananda Bose Shown Black Flag at University of Calcutta
#WATCH | Kolkata | Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) students protest against West Bengal Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose, who is presiding over the Certificate and Medal distribution ceremony, at the University of Calcutta today
TMCP State General Secretary, Abhiroop Chakraborty… pic.twitter.com/CpBsm2voWz
— ANI (@ANI) October 3, 2024
Trinamool Congress’ Youth Wing Protest Against Governor CV Ananda Bose
VIDEO | "Today in the Calcutta University, the way a retired VC did an unconstitutional programme, PhD degrees cannot be conferred without convocation. She herself knows. The governor is allowing her. We have shown black flags to him," says Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad… pic.twitter.com/TBZ0a3UP3H
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 3, 2024
The protesters also alleged that barring some professors, who are extremely close confidants of the Governor-appointed acting vice-chancellor Santa Dutta, others were not allowed entry to that certificate distribution venue. Later, Dutta claimed that none of the protesters were university students. "The protesters were there to vitiate the academic ambience on the university campus. But they will not be successful in their attempts to malign the image of the iconic university," she said. Privacy Violation of Female Students: Patiala Law Varsity Students’ Protest Enters Day 4, Seek Resignation of Vice-Chancellor Over Visiting Girls’ Hostel (Watch Video).
The issue of vice-chancellors' appointments for different state universities in West Bengal had been a long-contentious issue between the Raj Bhavan and the state Education Department. Several times in the past, the state government and the ruling dispensation accused the Governor of appointing interim vice-chancellors for different state universities completely bypassing the state Education Department. On the other hand, there had been claims from the office of the Governor that the appointment of interim vice-chancellors was necessary to restore the proper academic atmosphere at the state universities.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 03, 2024 03:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).