The St. Stephen’s Staff Association on Wednesday said that it was distressed by the college administration’s last-minute cancellation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s visit to the institution. Ms. Banerjee was due to deliver a lecture on August 1 at College Hall.
“The staff association is deeply troubled by the unprecedented violation of protocol and tradition on the part of the administration. Never before in the living memory of the college, if not in its entire history, has it demonstrated such a grave breach of etiquette towards a visiting dignitary and constitutional functionary,” it said in a statement.
The association said that St. Stephen’s has a long and cherished tradition of encouraging spirited debate and discussion both within and outside of the classroom.
‘Gesture of grace’
“This particular administrative action is completely unbecoming of the long history and tradition of hospitality, grace, and free speech that has been upheld by the college,” the association said. It added that it hoped that the college administration would issue a letter of regret to Ms. Banerjee, as a minimal gesture of grace and etiquette.
