Even as the distance between Raj Bhavan and Nabanna (State Secretariat) widened, Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar once again lambasted the Trinamool Congress Ministers for repeatedly making adverse comments against him.
Speaking to an audience Dhankar on Friday said “every time Governor (Dhankhar) does something sensible you (Ministers) come out with a statement defying decorum. I am not a tourist. I am here to discharge my constitutional duties which I will continue doing.”
The Governor was particularly referring to senior State leader and Minister Subroto Mukherjee’s comments questioning his initiative to hold an administrative meeting in North Bengal town of Siliguri. “It is nothing but a gimmick,” Mukherjee had said adding the Governor was just a “tourist in the State.”
He said “some call me a tourist, others called the Siliguri visit a gimmick” and vowed to “continue discharging” his constitutional duties, reminding that he was not the one who crossed his Laxman Rekha and adding it was upon Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to take action on her Ministers.
The distance between the Trinamool Congress and Dhankhar had been widening ever since he personally went down to Jadavpur University to rescue Union Minister Babul Supriyo who was trapped amid agitating students.
Subsequently he told the media about his being “humiliated” by the State Government during the Durga Puja carnival which was hosted by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
An emotional Governor said he “felt insulted at the carnival. I am deeply hurt and disturbed. The insult was not to me but to every people of West Bengal. They will never digest such as insult. I am a servant of the people of West Bengal. Nothing can deter me from performing my constitutional duties,” with his voice literally trembling.
“Speaking out of my injured heart” the Governor said “for four hours or more I was there and your press coverage was totally blacked out...This is unheard of. You will never find it anywhere else. Someone told me it was reminiscent of the Emergency.”
Meanwhile, Subroto Mukherjee once again attacked the Centre for breaking all constitutional norms and rules of federalism by bringing the Governor under Z category security to be provided by the central forces. “This is an utter infringement on State’s federal rights,” Mukherjee said.
