Two days after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lambasted Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar with her nine-page letter, the latter on Monday shot back and asked her not to shield the errant police personnel and to enforce neutrality of the police force.
Banerjee had Thursday alleged that Dhankhar was out to intervene in her administration and breaching all norms of the Constitution of India.
“As a President of India’s nominee, your role is ceremonial,” she had said.
Dhankhar, however, retorted saying he would refuse to be a governor as wanted by the the chief minister.
He wrote: “Sadly, Madam Chief Minister, you have chosen to take untenable alibi of Constitutional provisions, calling the Governor, an executive nominee, a mere spectator, to explain abdication of core police responsibilities by the DGP. This was least expected from you on such sensitive aspect. As Governor, I am neither a post office nor a ‘rubber stamp’. I am a stakeholder not in politics but surely in governance, to ensure it conforms to constitutionalism.”
The governor had a few days ago asked the director general of police, Virendra, to explain the alleged atrocities against opposition parties of the state and the role played by the police during recent arrests of alleged Al Qaeda terrorists from different parts of Murshidabad district. The DGP had written back with a two-liner saying the police were trying their best to control the law and order in the state.
Just two days after the reply of the DGP, Banerjee fired Raj Bhavan with a long letter, questioning the competency of the governor to seek explanation from the DGP of the state.
Dhankhar on Monday told Banerjee that his earlier letter referring the chief minister as the king of Hirak Rajar Deshe, a film of Satyajit Ray that depicts a ruler as oppressor, has not been that “impactful”.
“Significantly you have found it convenient to sidetrack and skirt all the issues flagged to the DGP, leaving no doubt that the alarming law and order situation and deeply politicised stance of police are un-defendable,” said he.
The governor equated Banerjee’s stance to what she did in 2019 when she tried to protect the then Kolkata commissioner, Rajeev Kumar, by hitting the street.
“Your communication, in essence, is in defence of the DGP, being in the vein of an earlier one for Kolkata cop, when your stand raised deep concern and eyebrows in all responsible circles. That was something unheard of for a Chief Minister to sit in dharna, to protect an IPS officer of the state and that too in those circumstances. At that time it was by way of physical stance, now via a letter,” he said.
“To shield those, who need to be held accountable, signals death-knell of democratic governance - a situation staring us in the face, and now for long. Surely Madam Chief Minister, this is not in consonance with your oath that ordains you to ‘bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established,” said the governor.
He further said the law and order of the state is under the police crutches.
Dhankhar said he had every right to seek explanation from the chief minister or any senior officer of the government who are appointed by the governor.
Said he, “ I fail to appreciate, Madam Chief Minister, what is amiss if the Governor wants the DGP to elaborate and explain the deteriorating law and order in the wake of political violence, political vendetta, ruthless quelling of opposition, incessant extortion by the syndicates on free run and frequent hurling of bombs. Maoism raising its head and terror outfits making State their haven add to our worries. How sad and worrisome, Madam Chief Minister, that in such a situation you are on front foot to oppose that the Governor could not do so, branding it as encroaching into political executive’s domain. I am afraid, I could not disagree more.”
He said the state is witnessing Talabazi (extortion), Santras (political violence) and corruption cases, which are largely undermined by the chief minister, as she does not give “legal authority or sanction” to probe them. He added that the police force is being used as political workers.
“The biggest question in our State is: Whether the police are doing their duty as prescribed by the law? And, if the political executive itself is seen as forcing the police to behave like party worker, then who should decide, whether the police are right or wrong? Can the chief of the police of the state hide behind his Chief Minister for his inactions, omissions and failure to conform to law and conduct? Can or should it be allowed? Would it not be a ‘murder of democracy?’ I am not in doubt - all this cannot be countenanced in a system accountable to Constitution,” said Dhankhar.
The governor mocked Banerjee quoting the Constitution lines and called it as nothing but travesty of justice. He said come what may he would continue to seek explanation from police or any other authority in the state.
“Just ponder how frequently you flaunt the Constitution given to us by Baba Saheb, whose name you invoke out of context. A travesty of justice. I want to make it emphatically known: I have never ever crossed the boundary of the legislative, political executives and judiciary. I remain restricted and dictated by the Constitution. And, if the Constitution gives me the right to ask the police to tell about the deteriorating law and order, I have to perform that duty and then I am not wrong and would do so undeterred,” said Dhankhar.
