Much to the chagrin of the Mamata Banerjee Government, the Centre on Tuesday provided Z category protection for Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and sent in the first posse of Central Protection Force for the purpose.
A decision regarding the “up-gradation” of the Governor’s security network was taken in the month of October by the Union Home Minister amid repeated run-ins between Raj Bhavan and the Nabanna (State Secretariat) with the TMC Government accusing Dhankhar of breakingf ederal norms by repeatedly interfering in administrative affairs.
A posse of 28 CPF personnel on Tuesday accompanied the Governor to at SAI Stadium at Salt Lake and a religious function at Baranagar in North Kolkata where during a short speech on Guru Nanak’s message for peace he raised his voice against the ongoing political clashes which was not doing the State any good.
After Tuesday’s development a separate control room of the CRPF will be set up at the Raj Bhavan sources said adding the central forces would hence forward mind the inner security ring of the Governor.
The State police will only be required to handle the outward ring and associated duty, sources said.
Bringing in the Governor under central protection only opens a new front of conflict between the Centre and the State Governments whose equations are anything but cordial, experts say.
Vide an order dated October 15, the North Block had directed the CPF headquarters to take charge of Dhankhar’s security that will be valid in all parts of the country.
Following this, the State Government urged the Home Ministry to take back its decision to entrust the security of Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar to CPF saying this would only demean the credibility of the State as also harm the federal structure.
The State’s appeal was however turned down by the Centre. According to sources in Raj Bhavan New Delhi was concerned about the repeated stand offs between the two sides that started with the Dhankhar’s official car and convoy being blocked at Jadavpur University in September when he went to “rescue” Union Minister Babul Supriyo who was gheraoed by a section of the students following an altercation with him.
Subsequently Dhankhar had been involved in repeated confrontation with the State Government locking horn with the Trinamool Congress in a warof words over a number of issues ranging from allegations that he was not accorded adequate honour during the Durga Puja carnival to his comments on the State’s law and order situation.
The State Government had been critical of the Governor allegedly for his repeated interference in the administrative affair.
Meanwhile Dhankhar on Tuesday once again disapproved of the ongoing political violence saying, “political violence is not good for the society and goes against the preaching of Guru Nanak Dev Ji who preached global unity. Such violence should stop as it is not good for the State.”