VCs in WB caught in tussle between Governor, state govt over Yoga Day

A tussle over Yoga Day celebrations has left Vice Chancellors (VCs ) of the state -run universities in a difficult situation in West Bengal after Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi wrote directly to them to observe the event on June 21, drawing objection from the state government.

West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee yesterday said that the governor had directly sent letters for International Yoga Day celebrations to universities, bypassing the state government, which was "unprecedented and unacceptable".

But the VCs said they will take an "appropriate decision at an appropriate time" on the matter.

Vice Chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University confirmed having received a letter from the Governor about International Yoga Day celebrations in the university
VC Sabyasachi Basu Roychoudhury told PTI, "Two days back we got a letter from Raj Bhavan signed by His Excellency the Governor of West Bengal who is also our Chancellor."
To a question if the university will observe the Yoga Day, the VC said, "I can only say we will take appropriate decision at appropriate time."
VC of Kalyani University Shankar Ghosh said, "While we have not received any such letter, we have already been running a Yoga Centre under physical education department for quite some time where a routine course is taught and yoga sessions are held under the watchful eyes of a supervisor."
When contacted Vice Chancellor of Jadavpur University, Suranjan Das said, "No we have not received any letter from Raj Bhavan about Yoga Day observations in JU."