Kolkata: State govt. run auditorium cancels RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's event

According to reports, Sister Nivedita Mission Trust had booked Mahajati Sadan auditorium to observe the 150th birth anniversary of Sister Nivedita.

General secretary of Sister Nivedita Mission Trust, Rantideb Sengupta, told IBNS, "Our booking for the programme was done earlier in last July and the authorities of Mahajati Sadan auditorium on September 1 informed us that they were cancelling our booking for renovation works there."

"West Bengal governor Keshari Nath Tripathi was scheduled to attend the event as a guest and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was supposed to deliver his speech there on the role of Sister Nivedita in India’s nationalist movement," Rantideb Sengupta told IBNS.

However, no reaction has been received so far from the authority of the auditorium while organizers have started looking for another hall to host the event.

Earlier in January, Kolkata Police had cancelled Mohan Bhagwat's event at Brigade Parade Ground, citing security concerns.

The RSS moved to the Calcutta High Court against city police's decision and beside slamming Kolkata Police, the court granted conditional permission to RSS to host the event at Brigade Parade Ground.

Speaking on the issue, the Kolkata Police tweeted: "Permission for programme at Mahajati Sadan to Nivedita Mission trust not been denied by KP.This is to clarify misinformation being spread2/1."

"Strongly denying the impression being created that KP has denied permission to Nivedita trust program at mahajati Sadan.2/2," read another tweet.

Speaking on the renovation of the hall, the police further posted: "Reason for denial by Mahajati Sadan authority is 10 day yearly renovation during puja holidays. No renting of hall during the period."

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)