New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS) Nobel laureate Amartya Sen Friday said that despite Nalanda University Visitor, President Pranab Mukherjee, being in favour of his continuing as chancellor and the university governing board having immediately "minuted" its decision to select him, there was a "clear view" that the government does not want him.
Speaking to NDTV news channel, following his letter withdrawing his candidature as chancellor, he said: "If the Visitor is not unkeen on my candidature and it is not happening, there is a certain amount of evidence indicating that (the government does not want me) and if there is a clear view that government does not want me, it is evident."
He also said the minutes of the Nalanda governing board were "shared immediately, and the particular part dealing with the chancellor's term was not only adopted unanimously, and the board took a view that it is being minuted right now, so that there is no delay; and in the presence of Secretary (East) in the ministry of external affairs and the joint secretary Nalanda; that this is being minuted right now and it will be circulated".
He said the chancellor selection part was "already minuted on a special power of the board".
He said the entire minutes of the meeting went out two weeks ago "and got the response from everyone on the board, except the ministry of external affairs", he told the channel.
On his criticism of Narendra Modi before he became prime minister and of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Sen said "as an Indian voter it is my liberty to like or not a candidate".
He clarified that the controversy was not "about my chancellorship but in the political interference in a matter of the board's power, which is to be signed on by the president; of turning an academic decision into a political one".
In his letter withdrawing his candidature, he wrote: "I understand that the Board's decision was conveyed to the Visitor in mid-January, immediately after the meeting of the Governing Board of the Nalanda University, drawing his attention to the urgency of the matter, since the planning and implementation of new teaching and research arrangements are proceeding rapidly in the newly functioning University.
"I have, therefore, decided that in the best interest of Nalanda University, I should exclude myself from being considered for continuing as Chancellor of Nalanda University beyond this July, despite the unanimous recommendation and urging of the Governing Board for me to continue. I take this opportunity also to thank the Governing Board very warmly for its confidence in me."
The external affairs ministry clarified that there was no attempt to curtail the tenure of Amartya Sen as chancellor of Nalanda University, a multi-nation initiative that began its academic session last September.
Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said the ministry has not yet received the approved minutes of the meeting of the governing board of Nalanda University from the members, in order to forward it to the Visitor, the president of India, for approval.
Akbaruddin said the draft of the minutes of the meeting was received Feb 13 with a covering that it is to be approved in two weeks time. He said the approved minutes had not yet been received, and there was "still time".
Leader Shama Mohammed, who called Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma fat, has now made a st
The series of bomb threats to schools in the national capital, Delhi, is not stopping. On Thursda
Attack on Ukraine: India distances itself from both Ukraine and Russia in the UN, know seven reasons
After the attack on Ukraine, three resolutions came in different international forums condemning
China has appointed Qin Gang as the new foreign minister. He will replace Wang Yi, who served in
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G On Amazon: If you want to buy a new phone, then Amazon is getting a g
The performance of the Indian team against Australia in the World Test Championship final has bee
Electric car sales in India increased in January and February. Electric vehicles have crossed the
Today is the last day of October. The month of November will start tomorrow and many big changes
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has confirmed that BCCI has not approached any Australian cricketer
Covid-19: The epidemic will end in 2022 only if the world accepts this condition of the WHO chief
World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has given a big message to the w
