Kolkata: The Vivsa Bharati University in Santiniketan decided to close the campus temporarily on Monday following violent protests against the university’s decision of constructing a boundary wall around the venue of its annual fair.
The two gates of the university were demolished by the protesters and construction materials stocked for building the wall were thrown where an annual fair takes place in December, cops said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the Chancellor of the university.
The annual fair, known as Poush Mela, is a prestigious cultural event that has been taking place for more a century and attracts thousands of people from the country and beyond. This annual fair has also been the source of income for many. The vice-chancellor Bidyut Chakrabarty though has refused to stop the construction of the boundary wall.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also disapproved the construction. “I do not want any construction that destroys the beauty of Visva Bharati. The governor called me to seek the state’s intervention. I have told the police to let the district magistrate call a meeting where students, locals and the vice-chancellor can express their views. I will urge the vice-chancellor not do anything that destroys the heritage of Tagore and Bengal,” Mamata said.
