NEW DELHI: With assembly elections in West Bengal months away, almost all events in the state are becoming a political battleground for the ruling Trinamool and its principal challenger the BJP.
The centenary celebrations of Visva-Bharati in Shantiniketan on Thursday was no different. PM Modi addressed the function through video conferencing, but state chief minister Mamata Banerjee skipped the celebrations. Mamata later said she was never invited to the event.
Addressing the centenary celebrations, Prime Minister Modi said the university's hundred-year journey is very special. "Visva-Bharati is a true embodiment of Gurudev's contemplation, vision and hard work for Maa Bharti (Mother India). This is an adorable place, which gives continuous energy to the country to fulfil Gurudev's dreams," he said.
Modi said Visva-Bharati was the embodiment of the vision and the hard work of the Nobel laureate and a "venerable source of constant energy to the country."
He said, today, India was spreading Visva-Bharati's message to the world.
"India is today leading the world in the field of environment protection through the International Solar Alliance and is the only country moving at a rapid pace to achieve the goals of the Paris Accord," he asserted.
However, Mamata had a different take on the university and said those who are currently at the helm of the central university "play no integral part" in carrying forward Tagore's legacy.
The chief minister, however, did tweet that Visva-Bharati evokes a sense of pride, having completed 100 years of establishment.
'Visva-Bharati' was declared a Central University and an Institution of National Importance by an Act of Parliament in 1951.
'Does PM practise what he preaches'Meanwhile, hours after PM Modi's address, senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Bratya Basu asked if the PM practised what he preached.
"The Prime Minister referred to the word viswa (world) in the context of acceptance in India. But does he practice this spirit of acceptance? Then what about cow vigilantes who beat people to death? Can he take responsibility for their actions," Basu asked.
Basu also took offence to PM Modi establishing a link between Tagore family and his home state Gujarat. "I did not understand why he deliberately tried to link Rabindranath Tagore with Gujarat. The Prime Minister claimed Jnanadanandini Tagore, his sister-in-law, learnt a style of draping saree from Gujarati women. It is partially true. Jnanadanandini also learnt this style from Parsi women. But, the Prime Minister is naturally reluctant to mention Parsi women."
He added Tagore is a "Viswakavi" (universal poet). "Then why is the Prime Minister so enthused on establishing his (Tagore's) links with Gujarat. It is unfair to restrict his relevance to a particular region."
'Don't drag university into political controversy'West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar said that the Visva-Bharati University should not be dragged into a political controversy.
"Not all balls are meant to be played in the game of cricket and not all balls are meant to be spared. The university should not be dragged into a political controversy. Those who want to put Visva Bharati University into a controversy, I appeal to them to give total autonomy to the institution and the Vice-Chancellor," Dhankhar said.
Nadda attacks Mamata for 'boycotting' Visva-Bharati eventBJP president J P Nadda accused Mamata Banerjee of "boycotting" the centenary celebrations of Visva-Bharati due to her "jealousy, and political malice and rivalry".
He also accused Mamata of denigrating the state's culture and Rabindranath Tagore's prestige.
While attacking her in his tweets, Nadda said Modi has deep faith in the culture, literature and philosophy associated with the state and Tagore.
"Now Bengal will destroy Mamata's arrogance and give the BJP a chance of make 'sonar Bangla'," he said, in an apparent reference to the elections due in March-April next year.
(With agency inputs)