Governor visited North Bengal to instigate violence: Mamata
Kolkata: For the first time describing him as a "corrupt man", Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has alleged that Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar's recent visit to North Bengal is a matter of serious investigation.
She alleged that he had gone to North Bengal to "instigate violence" by prompting BJP and separatist groups to undertake a movement demanding division of the region as a separate Union Territory. Raising questions over the Centre's decision to allow "a man like Dhankhar to become the Governor of a state", Banerjee said his name had appeared in the Jain hawala case of 1996 involving a dairy that named politicians who had received kickbacks. He was charge-sheeted. Though he had later got relief, a petition was again filed that is still pending.
"Why all of a sudden did he visit North Bengal? I have received information that he directed some groups to initiate movement. Is it a game that is going on to divide North Bengal? I am sorry to say that I have never seen such a Governor before... He is a corrupt man. Why does the Centre allow someone like him to become the Governor? If the Centre is unaware, I would like to inform them that Dhankhar's name was in the charge-sheet of the Jain hawala case.
Even after getting relief, a PIL or writ petition was filed that is still pending," Banerjee said, reiterating that she wrote three letters to the Centre seeking his removal from the post of Bengal's Governor.
She further added that a separate team was sent again to North Bengal by the Governor after he came back to Kolkata.
Replying to a question in regards to the Governor ensuring a special audit by CAG alleging "corruption" in Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), the Chief Minister questioned his credential to order a probe. "There must be a probe against him. How many people accompanied him? What is the expense? What has taken place in the Governor's House? Who all visited the place regularly to meet him? We must also find out why he went to Gurgaon before returning to Kolkata from Delhi. There must be probes to find answers to all these questions," Banerjee said, adding that the state government has already carried out an internal financial audit of the GTA.
Dhankhar, who was on a week-long visit to Darjeeling from June 21, made allegations of heavy corruption in the GTA along with lack of audit since 2017. BJP MPs and MLAs, including John Barla, Nisith Pramanik, Raju Bishta and Niraj Zimba, had also met him during his North Bengal visit.
Before departing for Kolkata on Tuesday, the Governor said: "During my stay, there were serious complaints raised by people's representatives and others regarding corruption in the GTA. Despite crores and crores of rupees coming to the GTA, there has been no matching development. Since 2017, no election has been held. Years together there hasn't been any audit. I will ensure a full special audit by the CAG so that the Board of Administrators can be made duly accountable."
Condemning the "acts of the Governor" as she accused him of "purposefully attempting to disturb the peace and harmony in North Bengal," Banerjee said: "The list containing names of the people he met at Darjeeling Raj Bhavan and during his tour to North Bengal will only prove that he, who believes in divide and rule policy", is instigating a quarter to create trouble. He met only BJP MPs and MLAs and the party's presidents. Is it the task of a Governor to instigate someone to create an unstable situation?"
Taking a jab at the Governor for "behaving like a dictator following Centre's direction", the Chief Minister alleged that he is threatening officers and bureaucrats saying that "you are under scanner" and "a cruel letter is coming against your name".
"Who is he to say all this? He is merely a Governor and nothing else," Banerjee added.
She further said that she did not utter a single word against him (Dhankhar) till date. "But today, I am sorry as I am forced to bring all this to light as all limits are being crossed," the Chief Minister said, assuring that she will continue to speak to him till he remains in the chair of the Governor as a courtesy.
In connection with the visit of a team of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to the state, Banerjee said: "Most of the people BJP took to the Commission were fake complainants. There was no such report of post-poll violence in the state after the elections. Our administration took strong and immediate action even in case of one or two stray incidents. The complainants brought to the NHRC by BJP on Monday engaging mini-trucks and buses were mostly fake. Moreover, they were brought violating the Disaster Management Act."
Assuring full support to the NHRC, she urged its top brass to work impartially without paying heed to the BJP.
She also criticised the Centre for "harassing a state government" despite it returning power with a landslide victory by sending in teams of different Central bodies and agencies. "Why is Bengal only obstructed, accused and abused? What is its fault? They (BJP) tried (to win the election), but failed. We all have witnessed how they had used everything, starting from cash to the Election Commission, to win the polls. They (Centre) should now accept the people's mandate and concentrate on their own work. It is their faulty decision for which people are suffering after taking Covaxin. Is it not a shame for the country before the entire world? I am really worried for my country," Banerjee said.
Dhankhar, however, claimed that his name never got reflected in the Jain Hawala charge-sheet. He also tweeted: "Never expected a leader of stature @MamataOfficial to engage in sensation premised on misrepresentation & untruth. Still wondering what prompted her to engage in such an act! Am sure she will for sure reflect & generate scenarios for working together for welfare of people".
Former GTA chairman and GJM (Binoy) general secretary Anit Thapa too dubbed the Governor's visit to the Hills as politically motivated. "I have always welcomed audits. Internal audits have been held. The public knows the type of work we have done in our one-and-a-half, two years tenure," Thapa said.
He further added: "When there is peace they always try to create unrest. We worked very hard to quell the unrest and establish peace in the Hills. Any attempt to disrupt it will not be tolerated. We request the public not to step into any provocation. Our priority is peace, development and tourism. We have not gained anything through years of unrest."
