KOLKATA
The eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government and Governor C.V. Ananda Bose is showing no sign of respite, with neither side willing to blink first.
The two first clashed over the violence that marked the Panchayat polls. While the Governor squarely blamed the TMC and the State Election Commissioner who was seen as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s confidant for the violence that led to 60 deaths, the TMC and the Government saw red at what it saw the Governor’s “over-enthusiastic action of rushing to one trouble-spot after another”.
Now battle-lines have shifted to higher education with clashes over control of State-aided universities. With the Supreme Court saying that the state government made improper appointments in state-aided universities, including at the iconic Calcutta University where a candidate with less than mandated academic performance was made Vice-Chancellor, without following due process, the illegally appointed V-Cs were forced to resign. This led to a limbo at 31 state-aided universities which suddenly became headless as a crucial admission season kicked off.
The Governor, who is the Chancellor, appointed Interim Vice-Chancellors without consulting the state government. In retaliation, Mamata chose a Teachers’ Day programme to issue a threat that she would launch an “economic blockade” and dared the Governor to see “how he could pay salaries”. She also threatened a dharna in front of Governor House.
In reply, Bose invited the Chief Minister as his “honoured guest” to stage any protest she may wish to hold inside Raj Bhavan. “I request my esteemed constitutional colleague, the honourable CM to come inside the Raj Bhavan and hold protests if she wants. Why should she be standing outside? We welcome her with open arms?” the Governor said.State Higher Education Minister Bratya Basu has called Bose various epithets like James Bond, Bengali literary character Gopal Bhar and criticised him for “hyper-activism,” calling him a “raging bull in a china shop” and a “mad elephant”.
On his part, the Governor sent out a five-minute video in Bengali, accusing the state government of “intimidating” Vice-Chancellors whom he appointed.
“I want universities in the state to be free of violence and be the best in India,” Governor Bose said. He promised in the name of Rabindranath Tagore, Netaji Subhas Chandra and Swami Vivekananda to continue to fight for a “corruption-free academia”.“The state government is applying all sorts of pressure tactics to bully and intimidate all Vice-Chancellors who were handpicked by me. It is quite a serious issue and needs attention. So far, five Vice-Chancellors have resigned. The situation has come to such a level that academicians holding top posts are being forced to quit. It does not augur well for the system,” Bose added.
Furthermore, he said: “I have come to West Bengal hoping to do some good work. I strongly feel that the new generation is the biggest resource. Several bright students are disillusioned because they are not getting a conducive atmosphere in institutes. All these universities should be made free from violence and corruption.”
“Quality teachers will be needed for students who want to be groomed under them.” The Governor taking a swipe at the State Education Department, said the department is recruiting Vice-Chancellors in a blatant violation of the norms. Bose further alleged that the state government insisted on recruiting those persons, who were either involved in financial irregularities or accused of harassing female students. “It’s not an ideal situation. Scam-tainted people who are the state government’s choice should not make their way to the highest pedestal of education. Being a custodian, how can I appoint such people as Vice-Chancellors,” the Governor asked.In the video, he tried to explain why he appointed interim Vice-Chancellors to State-run universities. “The Hon’ble Supreme Court has ordered you (Higher Education Department) … your action was held illegal. The VCs appointed had to resign. Who will then be the VC? In such a situation I appointed interim VCs.” The Governor also added that he did not force anyone to resign from the post of vice-chancellor. “Five (interim) V-Cs had to resign. Why? They told me they were being threatened by goons, senior IAS officers were pressuring them. This is what the (interim) V-Cs told me in confidence. That is why five of them resigned. I did not ask them to resign. They resigned out of fear,” the Governor said.
In another development, a section of academics aligned with the Trinamool Congress held a protest in front of the Raj Bhavan. Spokesperson of the Educationists’ Forum, and former Vice Chancellor of North Bengal University Prof. Om Prakash Mishra said: “We protest the inaction of the Governor over the bills passed by the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on subjects relating to higher education, which is unconstitutional.”
A ten-point memorandum written to Bose was submitted at Raj Bhavan. It enquired about the legal provisions behind choosing “under-qualified” persons as VCs. The forum questioned whether the persons appointed by the Chancellor fulfilled the criterion of being a professor for over 10 years, as was mandated by the UGC. The letter stated that 15 universities have been “headless” for over three months and that is affecting the university system, and affecting the career of youths. Mamata Banerjee has had testy ties with all the Governors she had in the last 12 years–from Keshari Nath Tripathi, to Jagdeep Dhankar and now Ananda Bose.