Stating that the state government has “failed in its duty” and not understood “the sentiments of the people and society”, West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose said Thursday that he would “socially boycott” Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who he even called “Lady Macbeth of Bengal”. He also said “many things are rotten in the State of Bengal”.
In a statement, Bose said he was committed to the people protesting the incident at R G Kar Hospital in Kolkata where a junior doctor was raped and murdered on August 9.
“There is violence in the state, violence at home, violence on campus, violence in hospital, violence in the city… The silent majority is part of democracy, not silence to the majority. Remember, silence is violence… In solidarity with Bengal’s society, I will socially boycott the Chief Minister. I will not be sharing any public platform with the Chief Minister. Nor will I participate in any public programme which involves the Chief Minister,” he said.
Bose said he was going to take proactive steps against the Chief Minister for violating provisions of the Constitution. He said he had been issuing instructions under Article 167 of the Constitution to the Chief Minister for compliance – Article 167 stipulates that it shall be the duty of the Chief Minister to communicate to the Governor all decisions of the Council of Ministers relating to the administration of the affairs of the State and proposals for legislation.
“I face many questions from people on what steps are being proposed by the Governor in the present situation… I stand committed to the Constitution of India. I am committed to the people of Bengal. I stand committed to the parents of the RG Kar victim and to the people who are protesting. In my assessment, the government has failed in its duty to understand the sentiments of the people and society,” he said.
He also targeted the Kolkata Police Commissioner. “I am deeply pained that serious allegations of criminal nature have been labelled against the highest officer… the Kolkata Police Commissioner who is supposed to prevent crime in Kolkata.”
According to the Governor, the way the Commissioner approached the case was highly suspicious.
“Kolkata Police Commissioner was not invited during Independence Day celebrations of Raj Bhavan but he gatecrashed which, according to legal experts, is criminal in nature. There was popular demand to take action against him for this alleged complicity. This was also brought to the notice of the Chief Minister but no action was taken. Now serious action needs to be taken against the Commissioner of Police, as the law demands… punishable under Section 329 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,” Bose said.
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