Buddhist programme: No Bengal government representative at China event

KOLKATA: No representative from the West Bengal government turned up at a seminar — China-India Buddhist and Other Exchanges — organised by Chinese consulate to mark the 50th anniversary of Hsuan Tsang monastery in Kolkata.

The Chinese consulate in Kolkata in its invitation cards had mentioned Speaker Biman Banerjee as a special guest, but it was later dropped on Wednesday evening after MEA withheld its permission. NOC was instead granted for the deputy Speaker.

However, during the four-hour event, Bengal government representatives were noticeable by their absence.


Sources said the consulate had initially approached governor KN Tripathi to invite him as the chief guest. However, the governor’s office, reportedly, could not confirm his presence citing prior commitments.

The state was also not allowed to include China as a partner country during the Bengal Global Business Summit in January. But the largest delegation of over 40 investors and businessmen came from China during the meet.