Kolkata, A day after West Bengal Govenor Jagdeep Dhankhar alleged the state’s law and order has completely “broken down” and publicly ticked off a top cop for his “casual” approach, the BJP backed him, but the other political parties including the ruling Trinamool Congress found fault with his attitude.
“I would like to say with all respect that Raj Bhavan seems frustrated. He is an ex-officio Chancellor of some state universities also. If he speaks to a senior officer in this way, then what will he teach the students?
“The way he is publicly displaying his power, it is totally undesirable. He is trying to shatter the confidence of the administration,” said state Parliamentary Affairs Minister and Trinamool Secretary General Partha Chatterjee.
Addressing an event at Barrackpore Gandhighat in North 24 Parganas district in connection with the martyrdom day of Mahatma Gandhi, Dhankhar on Thursday pulled up Barrackpore Police Commissioner Manoj Verma in full glare of all dignitaries for some police personnel allegedly reading newspaper during the chanting of religious hymns.
“Such casual, farcical, improper approach! The governor is here! Martyr’s Day is here! The death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Shame on us. Send me the list of all people,” Dhankhar was seen saying in a video.
“I am really worried. It is a serious lapse. How can it happen on this day. Are we living in a state governed by rural folks? If people are in uniform doing this, where are we heading?” he said, as Verma was seen saying “I am sorry” several times.
Later, the Governor expressed his unhappiness in two tweets. “….I was appalled that amidst chanting of religious mantras senior police personnel in uniform in front row kept on casually and freely reading newspapers. How can this indecorous act be by men in uniform”.
“I have drawn firmly attention to this grave lapse to CP (and not by him) and sought details, may be through government, for way forward, as overlooking such serious lapse is antithetical to rule of law. Hope there is swift input,” he said.
While speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the programme, Dhankhar said: “The rule of law has completely broken down in the state. There is total lawlessness.
“Law and order situation has completely collapsed. The state government needs to do some serious soul searching…” he said.
Congress leader Suvankar Sarkar lashed out against Dhankhar. “He is behaving like the mouthpiece of the BJP.”
CPI-M legislator and leader of the Left Front legislature party Sujon Chakraborty said while the Trinamool government was also not showing the due respect to Dhankhar, one cannot support the way the Governor is conducting himself.
“People of the state are disgusted at seeing the constant friction between the government and the Trinamool government. The real issues of the people are taking a backseat. There is cause for concern at the state of law and order in Bengal. But the way the Governor is conducting himself does not behove a person holding such a high constitutional post. It is highly unacceptable”.
State BJP President Dilip Ghosh accused the police of not showing due respect to the Governor.
“Were so many questions raised when the Chief Minister threatened to whip the police? Police is not showing proper respect to the Governor. what sort of custom is this?” he asked.
