Bengal Governor on Tuesday wrote another strong letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on her “continued silence” and “inaction” over the post-poll “retributive bloodshed and violation of human rights” in the State.
The Governor who decided to leave for New Delhi late on Tuesday evening accused the Chief Minister of “inaction” and apathy and wrote that the kind of violence the State was witnessing was “worst since Independence.”
The Governor wrote, “with heavy heart I am constrained to observe your continued silence and inaction over post poll violence, violation of human rights and dignity of women, destruction of property, perpetuation of miseries on political opponents—worst since Independence, ill-augurs for democracy …
“In spite of your attention having been drawn to the enormity of situation, huge exodus of people in search of cover for life and destruction of property worth crores there has only been stunning silence at your end and you did not deem it necessary to even deliberate this grave human tragedy in any of the Cabinet meetings so far …”
The Governor was likely to meet Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi, Raj Bhavan sources said adding, he could also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind. Dhankhar would return to Kolkata on 18th noon.
The Governor’s reactions came a day after his meeting with an “angry” delegation of the BJP MLAs led by State Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari who submitted a memorandum on post poll violence that had “degenerated into communal attacks.”
Adhikari had raised the issue of rampant attacks on the opposition workers particularly the saffron men post polls. “The political violence have now degenerated into communal attacks … which can be seen from the incidents that took place at Chandannagar (Hooghly) and Tiljala right in the heart of Kolkata … this has to be addressed immediately … the Government must take action before the situation spins out of control,” he said after emerging from Monday’s meeting with the Governor.
Soon after he met the Governor he tweeted “over 50 Opposition MLAs expressed serious concern at lawlessness and partisan stance of West Bengal Police and Calcutta Police and sought intervention as the situation was sliding.”
Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress sources said that the party was keeping a close watch on the situation in Delhi. “We won’t comment now but we are keeping close watch particularly after Suvendu Adhikari hinted at some action being contemplated nationally,” a TMC PM said adding “while the Governor needs removal the Opposition Leader is trying to save his face in his new party which he led to defeat in the elections.”