Oxford debating society postpones Mamata's speech at last minute

December 02, 2020 17:00

The Oxford Union Debating Society, citing unforeseen "circumstances", on Wednesday sought to postpone a scheduled virtual address by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the last moment, drawing flak from the ruling TMC, which sniffed "political pressure from the highest level" in the matter.

Banerjee was set to become the first Indian woman chief minister to address the 'The Oxford Union Debate' around 2:30 pm, but the organisers around 1.50 pm requested that the programme be rescheduled, stating that "nothing prevails over circumstances sometimes".

Taking to Twitter, the state home department said, "Today afternoon, the organisers have suddenly sought postponement and rescheduling of the programme at the last moment!"

"The request has been made telephonically from the organisers' end, citing some unforeseen problems, a brief while ago. The programme with Oxford Union today stands cancelled."

The TMC leadership, infuriated over the development, claimed that "political pressure" might have forced the organisers to take such a call. "This is unprecedented... A programme planned months ahead was cancelled a few minutes before the event was scheduled to start. This is not the first time that such a thing has happened.

Earlier, too, her programmes at international fora and foreign visits have been cancelled at the eleventh hour. "All sorts of pressure were applied from the highest level to stop Mamata Banerjee's address. We condemn such politics," a senior TMC parliamentarian told PTI on condition of anonymity.

In 2018, Banerjee's programme at Chicago to mark Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary, scheduled visit to China and her address at St Stephen's college in New Delhi were cancelled, one after another. Offering its "sincerest apologies", The Oxford Union Debating Society said in a mail to the government, "Our audience sent a great many questions, and we were all working hard to pull a number of elements together. However, nothing prevails over circumstances sometimes; it seems." -- PTI

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Dayal's Redemption: From Rinku's sixes to stopping Dhoni

A beaming father Chandrapal, said that the son told his mom that he was confident of stopping the legendary MSD on his tracks.

In Pictures - Prabhsimran, Jitesh steer PBKS to imposing total vs SRH

Images from the IPL match between Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium, Hyderabad, on Sunday.

Phase 5: EC urges urbanites to boost turnout amid low city voting concerns

The poll authority noted that in the past these cities have "suffered" from urban apathy in voting.

Maliwal case: CCTV digital video recorder seized from Kejriwal's home

They said the police team collected electronic devices including CCTV DVR to potentially get the footage of the alleged assault on Maliwal on May 13 when Bibhav Kumar, Kejriwal's close aide, allegedly attacked her at the CM's residence.

'RCB's dream run an inspiration for future teams'

RCB's turnaround will inspire other teams, says Dinesh Karthik