The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said that there was no attempt to curtail Amartya Sen’s tenure as the Chancellor of Nalanda University.
MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin clarified that the Foreign Ministry cannot act with regard to the Governing Body of Nalanda University (GBNU)’s decision to give Sen a second term, as it was yet to receive the approved minutes of the meeting.
Akbaruddin said that in the draft minutes of the GBNU, there are two options either to continue with Sen or the Visitor will seek three shortlisted names from the Board to appoint the successor of Sen.
He added that the draft minutes were distributed on February 13 by the GBNU giving two weeks time to submit the comments. The two-week deadline ends on February 27. After this stipulated time period only, the final approved minutes will be out, the Spokesperson added.
MEA is nodal Ministry looking after administrative work of Nalanda University while President Pranab Mukherjee is its Visitor. Akbaruddin was reacting to Sen’s letter and contention that the Government was sitting on a file that has his name cleared for a second term as Chancellor of the university by the GBNU, and delaying approval for his appointment even though his name was sent to President Pranab Mukherjee over a month back. “It is hard for me not to conclude that the Government wants me to cease being the Chancellor of Nalanda University after this July, and technically it has the power to do so.” Sen has also withdrawn his candidature for a second term as Chancellor of the Nalanda University.
Opposition parties have slammed the NDA Government over Sen’s decision to withdraw his candidature. JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar sought President Mukherjee’s intervention while expressing ‘deep pain’ over the report. Kumar said he would talk to Sen personally.
“Sen is a national treasure, and to be treated so shabbily is really unfortunate,” said Congress spokesperson Ajoy Kumar. Trinamool Congress MP Sugata Bose noted Sen did not want to be Chancellor but was requested and persuaded by the then UPA Government. AAP leader Ashutosh said such incident shows that BJP cannot tolerate criticism.