Kolkata: The St Stephen's College authorities have cancelled the programme where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was scheduled to address a meeting, citing " protocol" issues.
Banerjee was scheduled to address a gathering at the college on August 1. This was for the first time when a Chief Minister from Bengal had been invited to address the students of the college, one of the premier educational institutions in the country.
The college is under the Church of North India. Interestingly, the college authorities did not specify any reason for cancelling the programme except citing the " protocol" issue.
"First the Vivekananda event in Chicago… then her China visit… and now St Stephens!"
"Mamata Banerjee is giving the BJP-RSS sleepless nights. Let them keep trying… she cannot be silenced. The Bengal CM's trip to Delhi is on schedule. She will be chief guest at the "Love your Neighbour" conference organised by India's largest Christian body, The Catholic Bishops Conference of India, on 31st July at 2.30 pm" said a senior Trinamool MP.
It may be mentioned that recently two of Banerjee's foreign trips got cancelled and in both the cases, no specific reason was cited.
In June, Banerjee was scheduled to visit China and accordingly all arrangements were made. At the last minute, the trip was cancelled as it could not be decided who would meet her on behalf of the Chinese government.
The state government had alleged that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) did not take much interest in the trip. However, the ministry denied the allegation made by the state government.
Banerjee was scheduled to address a gathering at Chicago in-end August to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's historic speech at the World's Parliament of Religions, which was held in Chicago on September 11, 1893. The Ramakrishna Math and Mission had invited Banerjee to be present at the function.
However, RKM wrote a letter to Banerjee expressing its inability to hold the meeting following the death of Swami Abhiramananda, one of the assistant general secretaries of the Order and " other reasons."
It was learnt that RKM had succumbed to the pressure of the Ministry of External Affairs.