Was Mamata Right to Block Streaming of Modi Speech? Students React

Bengal government directed universities to ignore a UGC circular that directed them to live-stream Modi’s speech.

PM Narendra Modi addresses students on the 125th anniversary of Vivekananda’s Chicago Address.

(Photo: PTI)

The Mamata Banerjee government on Friday directed all universities and colleges under its jurisdiction to ignore a University Grants Commission (UGC) circular that directed educational institutions to live-stream Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on 11 September. The speech was to mark 125 years of Swami Vivekananda’s speech in the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago.

It is not acceptable to us, since we feel that this is a clear attempt at saffronisation of education. The colleges and universities in the state were surprised by the recent UGC circular. Then they approached us. I have clearly told them that there is no necessity to adhere to the UGC directive.

Partho Chatterjee, West Bengal Education Minister

This move by the Bengal government comes at a time when two state-run auditoriums recently refused permission for events featuring RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and BJP supremo Amit Shah, respectively.

The Quint approached students from some state-run colleges in Bengal and asked them if they would have wanted to watch the PM’s speech, if Mamata was correct in issuing the directive and if they really believe that educational institutes are being saffronised. Watch the video above to know what they said.

Video Editor: Mohd Ibrahim