Partha slams Guv for writing to V-Cs over Yoga Day celebration

Kolkata: State Education minister Partha Chatterjee on Thursday expressed his discontent over Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi writing to vice-chancellors of state universities, over celebration of Yoga Day.

"This is not desirable. He, being the chancellor, has written directly to the vice-chancellors of universities in the state, keeping the Education department in darkness. The Human Resource Development department also instructs the state institutions on certain things but they write to the state Education department," Chatterjee said.

He also doubted whether the action of the Governor, who happens to be the chancellor of the state universities, is constitutional or not.

"Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, since taking over the charge of the state, has been laying special emphasis on sports, yoga, physical education and similar activities. In Netaji Indoor Stadium, we have organised yoga programmes as well," Chatterjee reiterated.

Educationist Pabitra Sarkar said, "The Governor, as chancellor of the state universities, can write to the vice-chancellors, but he should have informed the Education department. It is desirable that the Governor and the Education department should have no communication gap."

West Bengal College and University Teachers' Association (WBCUPA) also feels that the action of the Governor, in connection with observance of Yoga Day, is not desirable.

"It is indeed sad that the Governor, as Chancellor of the universities, has been aloof when it comes to preparation of statute of the universities. However, in this context, he has used his constitutional post and has written directly to the V-Cs. We feel this is not in conformity with the federal structure," said Srutinath Praharaj, general secretary of WBCUPA.