Clear view that government doesn't want me: Amartya Sen


Posted on 23rd Feb 2015 11:38 am by mohit kumar

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".

Did you know?Explore Trending and Topic pages for more stories like this.
0 Like 0 Dislike
Previous news Next news
Other news

Coronavirus News Updates: PM Modi’s Video Conference With CMs Begins, Word On Lockdown Awaited

कोरोनावायरस (COVID-19) लाइव अपडेट: भारत के 21

She Season 2: Dangerous villain of 'She' found from YouTube video, a hobby only two, farming in forests and working in films

In the last episode of the first season of Netflix's web series 'She', the entry of a character s

Bumper discounts on Xiaomi to Samsung Galaxy, deals are such that you will buy the phone immediately

Prime Phones Party: Amazon has brought a new sale event on its platform. The company has named it

Lashkar-e-Islam is sending threatening letters to Kashmiri Hindus, leave Kashmir or else you will be killed

Efforts are being made once again to take Kashmir back to the 1990s. Amidst the deteriorating sit

FDI: FDI of $ 475 billion may come into the country in five years, MNC considers India as an attractive investment destination

With a focus on reforms and growth rate, India can achieve foreign direct investment (FDI) of $ 4

Petrol Diesel Price: Today oil companies have released the prices of petrol and diesel, know the prices of your city

Oil companies have released the prices of petrol and diesel for today. Today companies have not m

US Parliament-like violence in Brazil: Thousands of former President's supporters entered Parliament, Supreme Court, and Rashtrapati Bhavan, ransacked..400 arrested

In Brazil, thousands of supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro broke through police barric

JEE Main Answer Key April 2023: Objections can be lodged till April 21 on the answer key of the second session of JEE Main

Joint Entrance Examination (Main) conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to

Ikkis Movie Review: 'Ikkis' raises questions about war, Dharmendra's performance will move you to tears; Agastya is a future superstar.

Some stories leave a profound impact on you. They evoke pride, bring tears to your eyes, and touc

Uddhav decided to leave the arrow command: 12 MPs who came with the Shinde faction, understand how the Election Commission will decide on 5 questions

Eknath Shinde has started getting heavy in the battle to snatch Shiv Sena's party symbol Arrow Co

Sign up to write
Sign up now if you have flare of writing..
Login   |   Register
Follow Us
Indyaspeak @ Facebook Indyaspeak @ Twitter Indyaspeak @ Pinterest RSS



Play Free Quiz and Win Cash