Kolkata: In an explosive outburst, Visva-Bharati vice-chancellor (V-C) Bidyut Chakrabarty on Friday branded the political leaders, attending Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary celebration wearing caps at Rajghat every year, as the “top thieves” of the country who, however, practise the opposite of the icon’s ideology throughout the year.
Prof. Chakrabarty observed that the famous central university, which was founded by great poet and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore at Santiniketan, has become so much “ill” financially that it has been running on ventilator. He made it clear that he is not scared of anyone although he knew his comments would create a controversy. Significantly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the Chancellor of Visva-Bharati, which has witnessed protests by the members of CPI(M) student wing, SFI, over CAA, NRC and NPR recently. Addressing the faculty and students on the occasion of International Mother Language Day, Prof. Chakrabarty alleged, “On October 2, no one can enter Rajghat on Gandhi’s birth anniversary. The top thieves from all over the country, wearing caps, go there and occupy it. But throughout the year, they do the same thing which Gandhiji objected to. I think Visva-Bharati is ill now and is now surviving on artificial respiratory system. Only those of us who associated with the administration of university know the degree of financial crunch. It may sound harsh but the fact is many of us are surviving on Visva Bharati. The journalists are one of them who are running their families this way. If they do not get V-B stories, they can not write anything.”
Prof. Chakrabarty complained, “The traders body can not earn living if their shops are not run during Pous Mela.”
