Mamata skips PM Modi’s Visva-Bharati event, TMC says she was invited late

Kolkata: Skipping the Visva-Bharati centenary celebration, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video-conferencing on Thursday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee chose social media to convey her wishes. Calling on to preserve the vision and philosophy of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee termed Visva-Bharati in Shantiniketan his greatest experiment to create ideal human beings. “Visva Bharati University turns 100. This temple of learning was Rabindranath Tagore’s greatest experiment on creating the ideal human being. We must preserve the vision and philosophy of this great visionary,” she tweeted.

Her party, Trinamool Congress (TMC), claimed that Banerjee received a late invite. However, the invite by Visva-Bharati Chancellor Bidyut Chakrabarty to the Chief Minister is dated 4 December.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the event, said Visva-Bharati presented a strong image of Indian nationalist sentiment during the independence struggle under the guidance of Tagore.

“Guided by Gurudev (Rabindranath Tagore) Visva-Bharati presented a strong image of Indian nationalist sentiment during Independence. Gurudev wanted entire humanity to benefit from India’s spiritual awakening. Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision is also a derivative of this sentiment,” said PM Modi. 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.

The Prime Minister said that India is the only major country which is moving in the right direction to achieve the targets of the Paris Agreement. “Our country is spreading the message emanating from Visva-Bharati to the whole world. India today is leading the world in environmental protection through international solar alliance. India is the only country today which is on the right path to achieve the Paris Accord’s environmental goals,” said PM Modi during his address.

“Visva-Bharati’s hundred-year journey is very special. Visva-Bharati is a true embodiment of Gurudev’s contemplation, vision and hard work for Maa Bharti. This is an adorable place for India, which gives continuous energy to the country to embody the dream that Gurudev had dreamed,” he added.