“The Governor had issued a written permission to allow the delegation, including Suvendu Adhikari and the victims of the post-poll violence, to enter the Raj Bhavan and meet him. In spite of that, the police did not allow them to enter. The Governor today issued constitutional directives to the CM, wanting to know why they were stopped,” the official said.
In his letter to the CM, Bose underscored the importance of adhering to constitutional protocols, particularly in matters concerning governance and legislation. He called upon the state government to provide explanations for its actions and urged against any attempts to undermine the authority of his office.
Bose also visited Maheshwari Bhawan in Burrabazar on Friday and met people affected by violence in the state after the Lok Sabha polls. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has levelled allegations of post-poll violence against the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which the state’s ruling party has denied.
Talking to media persons, Bose referred to the police stopping the alleged victims from meeting the Governor as an “unpardonable act”. “(It’s) An unpardonable act that the government prevented victims of violence from meeting the Governor,” he said.
Hitting out at Banerjee, Bose said, “The (Bengal) Chief Minister cannot deface the Constitution of India. It is a dance of death, a macabre of what is happening in West Bengal. However, high you may think you are, the law is above you.”
“I have heard the victims. That is one version of the story. As a Governor, I would like to be fair before making any comments. I have sought a report. After listening to what the government has to say, I will give you my considered opinion,” he added.
Police on Thursday prevented the Adhikari and alleged victims of post-poll violence from entering the Raj Bhavan to meet the Governor, citing the imposition of Section 144 of the CrPC in the area. The incident occurred around 4pm when Adhikari headed towards Raj Bhavan, along with a bus full of people allegedly affected by post-election violence in the state.
Bose, in his communication to Banerjee, also referred to constitutional norms that require CMs to intimate Governors about all decisions of the council of ministers relating to the administration of state affairs and proposals for legislation. Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court Friday wondered whether the West Bengal Governor was under “house arrest”, and said the Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Suvendu Adhikari can visit the Raj Bhavan along with alleged victims of post-poll violence to meet C V Ananda Bose if permission is granted by his office.
Adhikari and another person had moved the court, claiming that despite having written permission, police stopped them from entering the Raj Bhavan on Thursday.
Hearing their petitions, Justice Amrita Sinha directed that the Adhikari can visit the Governor along with the people allegedly affected by violence in the state after the Lok Sabha polls, on the basis of permission granted by the Raj Bhavan.
During the course of hearing, the judge asked the state’s Advocate General (AG) whether the Governor was under “house arrest”.
Justice Sinha said when that is not the case, why were these people not allowed to meet the governor despite having permission from his office.
AG Kishore Dutta stated before the court the allegations made by the petitioners were not true, and claimed that Adhikari’s secretary did not communicate with police at the site as was requested when they reached the spot outside the Raj Bhavan on Thursday afternoon.
Adhikari’s lawyer opposed the submission of the AG, claiming that Dutta had not been properly informed by his officers.
Dutta, thereafter, submitted before the high court that the Governor went to Maheshwari Bhawan in Burrabazar on Friday and met the alleged post-poll victims.
The court directed that a fresh request has to be made by the petitioner, and if permission is granted by the Governor’s office, they may visit the Raj Bhavan.
Justice Sinha also further directed that the police should be informed about the number of people accompanying Adhikari during the visit.
When the government counsel demanded that visitors be identified on their entry to the Raj Bhavan, Justice Sinha said that no one’s identity should be recorded as it could lead to them being “harassed again later”.
— With PTI inputs