Mamata Banerjee warns of blocking funds to universities amid tussle with Governor

She also warned of a sit-in protest outside Raj Bhavan if he continued to disregard the state government.

Addressing a Teacher's Day programme in Kolkata, Banerjee said: “Now we have an honourable governor sitting here. The one who says he alone will see college, will see university…see everything. Have you ever heard of a vice-chancellor being changed in the middle of the night? Ex-IPS, ex-judge has been brought in overnight. He is doing whatever he thinks is his zamindari. I say you are most welcome but remember the state government pays for the funds to run the universities."

In a direct warning to state-run universities that dare to follow the rules set by the Governor, Banerjee said: "If any college or university obeys what you are doing, I will stop all funding. He can appoint VC but not pay their salaries. Let us see how the vice-chancellors are paid salaries. I will see how professors, teachers and employees are given salaries. Here’s tit for tat. No compromise,” Banerjee said during a speech.

“He is doing nothing. We are passing a bill in the Assembly, he is not giving assent. According to the Constitution, he cannot do that…these problems should be taken care of. Otherwise, I will sit in dharna in front of Raj Bhavan,” she said.

The West Bengal government and Governor Bose have been at loggerheads over the latter’s recent decision to appoint interim vice-chancellors (VCs) in seven universities.

Bose, who is also the chancellor of state-run universities, is in the process of appointing interim VCs in nine other universities, media reports said.

The move has triggered strong protest from the West Bengal government with Education Minister Bratya Basu slamming the governor for acting in a “dictatorial manner", calling the appointments “unconstitutional” and “illegal”.