September 13, 2018
Trinamool reacts to low-on-facts argument by MEA on Mamata Banerjee’s Chicago trip which was cancelled
Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago, on the occasion of 125 years of the historic address by Swami Vivekananda, had invited Mamata Banerjee to attend a programme in Chicago. The Chief Minister of West Bengal confirmed her participation to them. Subsequently, it is learnt, that under ‘tremendous pressure’ the organizers were prevailed upon to cancel the programme. It is common knowledge that the BJP-RSS wanted only one major programme to be held in Chicago and that would be under the banner of the Global Hindu Congress (World Hindu Foundation) and this programme would be attended by Mohan Bhagwat.
To ensure this happened, intense pressure was mounted on Vivekananda Vedanta Society in Chicago to cancel the programme for which Mamata Banerjee had confirmed. Subsequently, the programme was cancelled.
We are also reproducing the Official Statement from the U. S. Consulate General, Kolkata released at the time: (verbatim)
“The U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata is pleased to hear that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is interested in visiting the United States as there have been no visits by a Chief Minister from West Bengal in many years. The Chief Minister’s visit would be a good opportunity for her to highlight the possibilities in the economic and trade relationship with the United States and to experience America first hand. At this stage there have been no discussions with the U.S. Consulate General regarding the Chief Minister’s possible visit.”
Derek O’Brien
Parliamentary Party leader (RS) and Chief National Spokesperson, All India Trinamool Congress
