BJP leader and leader of opposition in the West Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari, along with a host of party MLAs, met Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar at Raj Bhawan, Kolkata on Monday "to apprise him of the several inappropriate incidents happening in Bengal and discuss other important matters."
After the meeting, Dhankhar said 50 MLAs of opposition, including Adhikari, submitted a memorandum to him, calling his attention towards certain points, including anti-defection law and incidents of violence in Tiljala in Kolkata and Chandanmagar in Hooghly district.
“Being the constitutional head of the state, let me make it clear that anti-defection law is applicable in full force in Bengal. It is as much applicable here as in other parts of the country,” news agency ANI quoted the governor as saying.
He made an appeal to end political violence in the state saying, “There is no place for violence in this land.” “With folded hands, I want to appeal to all, we don't want blood-soaked Bengal. There is no place for violence in this land. Rabindranath Tagore had said, 'where mind is without fear and head is held high'. I know no one's mind is free from fear here,” he said.
He claimed that “fear quotient is so high that democracy is breathing its last” in the state. “I request govt officials and the chief minister, it is vital for us that democracy thrives. I hope the chief minister will take necessary steps and the government will adopt a positive approach. We can't allow Bengal to be on fire,” he said.
A few days ago, Dhankhar had claimed that the law and order situation in Bengal is collapsing, referring to the incidents of violence in Chandannagar and Tiljala.
