PM Modi to Visit WB, Jharkhand, But Won’t Give ‘Desikottam’ Awards

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending the convocation of Visva Bharati University at Shantiniketan on Friday, 25 May, in the presence of his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina,

reported PTI. However, an official informed that he will not be conferring the 'Desikottam', Visva-Bharati University's highest award, during the ceremony due to paucity of time.

"For the time being, the award ceremony is being deferred due to paucity of time. In the 60s too, the award was not conferred due to paucity of time. It was later conferred to eminent

personalities," Sabujkali Sen, officiating vice-chancellor of the university told newsmen.

The West Bengal Chief Minister, according to PTI, is unhappy over this decision of the PM.

In April, the Visva-Bharati academic council had proposed to honour Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, author Amitav Ghosh, poet Gulzar, writer Suniti Kumar Pathak, Rabidra Sangeet

exponent Dwijen Mukherjee, physicist Ashok Sen and painter Jogen Chowdhury with the 'Desikottam' award and the university executive council had approved the names in May, reported PTI.

"I do not want to go into the reasons why they are not getting the award. I am shocked," said CM Mamata Banerjee. She also said that she will be present at the event as the convocation is

not a place for politics änd "Visva-Bharati is our pride."

On Firday, the PM will also inaugurate the Bangladesh Bhavan, which is a symbol of cultural ties between India and Bangladesh, reported PTI.

Later, PM Modi will travel to Jharkhan to lay the foundation stone of several projects like Sindri Fertilizer Project, Ranchi City Gas Distribution Project, Development of Deoghar airport

and Patratu super thermal project reported PTI.

He will also witness the exchange of MOUs for 'jan aushadhi kendras' and in Rachi interact with the district collecters of 'aspirational' districts of Jharkhand.

The ‘transformation of aspirational districts' programme was launched in January and it aims to quickly and effectively transform these districts to raise the living standards of their

people, reported PTI.

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