On Tuesday, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar took a dig at the Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee, accusing him of violating constitutional norms and not providing information sought by him.
Dhankhar further reproached Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly failing to provide answer to his queries on various occasions.
“The speaker…. he thinks he has the license to talk anything about the governor,” Dhankhar told reporters after paying floral tributes at the statue of BR Ambedkar on the Assembly premises ahead of Republic Day.
However, the speaker termed Dhankhar’s comments as “uncalled for”.
The governor claimed that on myriad occasions, Biman Banerjee, the speaker, did not give him with information sought, including details of the Assembly resolution on the extension of BSF’s area of operation.
Dhankhar said that democracy is in deep peril in the state adding that the governance is also away from constitutional norms.
“Democracy is in deep peril here. Governance is much away from constitutional norms,” the state Governor said while speaking to media persons after paying homage to Dr BR Ambedkar at his statue in the West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday on the occasion of National Voters’ Day. The Governor also said that government officers in the state do not follow rule of law.
“Government officers (in the state) have forgotten rules. Their actions are far distanced from constitutional norms and their conduct regulations. They’re playing with fire. They are under the wrong impression if they think what can the man in Raj Bhavan do,” Dhankar said.
“It is my duty, obligation and my constitutional oath to preserve, protect and defend constitution,” he added.
Dhankar also alleged that voters in the state are not allowed to exercise thier right of voting freely and fearlessly referring to the post-poll violence incident.
“Voters are the most important stakeholder in democracy. A democracy thrives, sustains and blossoms only on the strength of voters. If a voter independently, fairly, fearlessly exercises his right, that is a sense of democracy. I am sorry to tell you that in West Bengal a voter does not have that freedom. It is totally missing. We have seen post-poll violence of unprecedented level for those who dared to vote according to their right had to pay price with their life. Post-poll violence of that gravity — arson, loot, rape, killings — unheard of. We were put to shame before national and global community. I appeal to everyone that democracy is imperiled, democracy is deeply threatened if the voter does not enjoy this right uninterruptedly and fearlessly. That is not the situation here,” Dhankar said.
With inputs from ANI.
