KOLKATA: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar dropped a bombshell on the Mamata Banerjee government on Sunday, saying that the Raj Bhavan was placed under surveillance “undermining the sanctity” of the institution
“I would like to tell you all Raj Bhavan is under surveillance. It undermines the sanctity of the Raj Bhavan. I will do everything to protect its sanctity,” Dhankhar said at a press conference. “I have initiated a very serious, critical probe into it.” “As constitutional act, I will not, will never suffer any surveillance of any nature whatsoever.
Those who have done it, must pay the price according to rule of law. My internal inquiry will be completed soon enough,” the Governor said. The latest statement by Dhankhar could only worsen his strained ties with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with whom he has often crossed swords over a host of issues in the past one year.
Incidentally, Mamata had skipped the Governor’s Independence Day tea party a day before. Expressing “pain” at the CM and her Cabinet colleagues not attending the customary event at the Raj Bhavan, Dhankhar said that less than 35 distinguished guests had been invited keeping in mind the COVID-19 outbreak.
“It has been very painful for me.... I was constantly interacting with the state government through the chief minister, was impressing upon her consistently that the programme will be held totally and strictly following the COVID protocol and keeping the number to bare minimum.
“It would have been befitting for the occasion, it would have been a good tribute to our freedom fighters’ sacrifice if the chief minister and members of the executive invited (had attended); it has set a bad precedent,” he said.
On the Constitution Day, the governor said, he was sixth in queue to address the Assembly. “I pray to Almighty that good sense prevails, Constitution is respected,” Dhankhar said, adding, “15th August was another painful day for me, political violence and killing was noticed over unfurling of the national flag.”