The West Bengal government has cancelled the Teacher’s day programme in Kolkata this year amid the ongoing protests in the city over the rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar hospital, The Indian Express reported citing sources.
The programme will now be held later.
The state government organises the Teacher’s Day programme each year at Netaji Indoor stadium. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attends the event and addresses the students. Education Minister Bratya Basu, along with other ministers, officials, and dignitaries, also attend the event.
Besides this, some teachers are also fiven the Shiksha Ratna’ awards for their exceptional performances at the event.
A senior state government official told IE, “It was a plan like every year, slated to be held on September 5. But, on Saturday we came to know that Advance Security Liaison (ASL) meeting will not be held and we confirmed that the programme is going to be canceled.”
A senior official of the Education Department said that considering the ongoing protests in the city, it could be “risky for the Department to organise such a programme”.
“Instead, a small programme on Teacher’s day will be organised at Bikash Bhawan on Thursday,” the official added.
However, General secretary of All Bengal Teachers Association (ABTA), Sukumar Pyne said, the state government and the Chief Minister are now “afraid” of people.