Kolkata: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar will meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi at 11 am Saturday.
The meeting between the leaders comes two days after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made an “unscheduled” appearance at Raj Bhavan and held an hour-long meeting with Dhankhar.
The Governor’s office refused to elaborate on the issues to be discussed by Dhankhar and Shah Saturday, but a top official said he is likely to focus on the “present political situation” in the poll-bound state. West Bengal is headed for assembly elections in a few months.
“He is determined to walk any length to ensure free and fair elections in the state. It may include getting more central forces to ensure a peaceful election process and as a confident-building measure among voters,” added the source, who did not want to be named.
The governor will leave for Delhi late Friday evening.
CM-governor meet
Mamata’s relationship with the governor’s office has been marked by acrimony, especially under Dhankhar’s tenure.
Dhankhar repeatedly takes to Twitter to accuse “senior police officers (of) acting as political servants” and has alleged that some top IPS officers in senior positions go against legal frameworks. He has also stressed the need to conduct an “impartial probe” against some officers.
Purulia MP @JyotirmayBJP Jyotirmay Singh Mahato, recieved Hon'ble Governor Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar & Smt Sudesh Dhankhar at Purulia Sainik school Helipad.
Hon'ble MP also submitted representation highlighting partisan police stance as &dwindling law & order situation in Purulia. pic.twitter.com/D6ERtm35OF
— Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) January 1, 2021
Startled at Notices by @WBPolice to persons to to probe premise of access to justice system.
Access to justice system is a fundamental right.
This is beyond surveillance and scrutiny except Judiciary.
Hope respect to rule of law is shown @MamataOfficial by withdrawing these. pic.twitter.com/Fjnf00NTSW
— Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) January 1, 2021
Such capitulation #DGP @WBPolice and usurpation #SSA @MamataOfficial sounds death knell of democracy.
Such gross violation of Police Act and constitutional provisions proves political stance of police and administration that is by law required to be “politically neutrality”
— Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) December 28, 2020
In turn, the Trinamool Congress wrote to the President last month to seek Dhankhar’s removal, accusing him of “transgressing constitutional limits” by regularly commenting against the state administration and government in the public. The party also routinely refers to the Raj Bhavan as the state BJP headquarters.
Over the past few weeks, the Mamata government has also found itself at odds with the central administration after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sought to transfer three IPS officers posted in the state following an attack on BJP president J.P. Nadda’s convoy in Bengal.
Amid these tensions, the chief minister suddenly arrived at Raj Bhavan Wednesday evening. According to sources in the Raj Bhavan and state secretariat Nabanna, the meeting was not scheduled.
While the governor and Mamata held an hour-long meeting, sources at Nabanna said it was a “courtesy” visit.
Myself and Mrs Sudesh Dhankhar greeted Hon’ble Chief Minister @MamataOfficial when she visited Raj Bhawan today. pic.twitter.com/IsbEqedBHV
— Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) January 6, 2021
The meeting came a day after the CBI summoned three senior IPS officers in connection with alleged cattle and coal smuggling cases.
Subscribe to our channels on YouTube & Telegram
Why news media is in crisis & How you can fix it
India needs free, fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism even more as it faces multiple crises.
But the news media is in a crisis of its own. There have been brutal layoffs and pay-cuts. The best of journalism is shrinking, yielding to crude prime-time spectacle.
ThePrint has the finest young reporters, columnists and editors working for it. Sustaining journalism of this quality needs smart and thinking people like you to pay for it. Whether you live in India or overseas, you can do it here.