Controversy in Visva-Bharati over workshop

A national worskshop on heritage and culture at Visva-Bharati University to be hosted by Rashtriya Kala Manch has triggered controversy in the institute founded by Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore.

The central university is collaborating with Rashtriya Kala Manch for the workshop and a section of its students and the faculty have alleged that the 98-year-old institution is allowing organisations close to saffron outfits to set up their base in it.

Sudipto Bhattacharya, a professor of the university, told PTI on Saturday that the Rashtriya Kala Manch is an organisation which has proximity to ABVP, the student wing of RSS, which should not be allowed to spread its ideals in a place like Visva-Bharati.

"We are opposed to Visva-Bharati associating with Rashtriya Kala Manch for any programme. We are opposed to the involvement of any group with political leanings in any programme of Visva-Bharati," Bhattacharya said.

Leader of SFI's Visvabharati unit, Somnath Sau said "We are not opposed to an workshop on art and culture but we are against the entry of Rashtriya Kala Manch, an organisation known for its closeness to VHP."