Speaking at the India Today Conclave East 2019 in Kolkata, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar tore into what he described as “chaotic governance” in West Bengal
Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday feels democracy has broken down in West Bengal under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s administration, and describes himself as a “worried man”.
Speaking at the India Today Conclave East 2019 in Kolkata, Governor Dhankhar tore into what he described as “chaotic governance”.
He also denied he was fighting with Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool government; he said it was really the other way around.
“The government is outrageously at loggerheads with the Governor. It’s trying to belittle the officer of the Governor,” Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar said.
“And they are doing it through loose cannons — who hold, unfortunately, the post of minister — and I am still in persuasive mode,” he said.
Since he assumed office in July, Governor Dhankhar and the Trinamool government have clashed over a number of issues, ranging from the seating arrangement at a Durga Puja carnival to his unscheduled visit to Singur.
Asked by India Today TV’s Rahul Kanwal if democracy had broken down in West Bengal, he said: “Have you any doubt about it?”
“I get publicity here only when I am in one mode…be in praise of the Honourable Chief Minister.”
‘SWACHCH BHARAT SHOULD BEGIN FROM BENGAL ASSEMBLY’
The latest face-off between Governor Dhankhar and the state government came this week when the former was made to wait in front of a locked gate at the state assembly. He later entered through one meant for officials and journalists.
The Governor accused the Speaker of cancelling an invitation to lunch “at the last moment” and said he felt insulted.
At the India Today Conclave East on Saturday, he said the incident “puts democracy to shame”.
He also said he thought Swachch Bharat, a nationwide cleanliness drive, “needs to start from the assembly building.” (He added that he meant this literally, and not metaphorically.)
‘WHAT AURANGZEB TRIED WITH SHIVAJI’
Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar also brought up the issue of seating arrangements at a Durga Puja event held in Kolkata on October 11.
At the time, he said he was seated in such a way that he “could not witness a single live programme without being blocked by 20-25 people in the front”.
At the India Today Conclave East, he described it as “something [the Mughal emperor] Aurangzeb tried with Shivaji”.
“What was done to me, I hope it is never done to any constitutional head of any state,” he said.
Inputs from Manogya Loiwal
Prasanta Patnaik