Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee links governor Dhankhar to 1996 hawala scam

KOLKATA: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday called state governor Jagdeep Dhankhar "a corrupted man", claiming he was yet to be cleared of his links with the 1996 hawala scam and urging the media to check "whether there was a chargesheet or not" (in the case).
Banerjee also charged Dhankhar with trying to "split Bengal", referring to his meetings with "separatist leaders" and BJP leaders demanding a separate state in north Bengal during his Darjeeling visit. She had written thrice to the Centre to "recall Dhankhar", she said, urging Delhi to let go of its "ego" and "consider" her plea.
"He is trying to disturb peace in north Bengal. He called and met separatist leaders. He is urging them to launch protests. Is this a governor's duty?" she said. "He went to Delhi for three days and then to Gurgaon before heading to north Bengal," Banerjee said. "Why did he choose to tour north Bengal suddenly? Who did he meet: BJP MPs, MLAs and block presidents?" she added.
"Why would such a governor be sent here? Is the central government's only job to disturb state governments? Can't they digest, tolerate, accept their defeat? They use ED and CBI. All these to disturb people when a pandemic is raging," she said.
Banerjee elaborated on her "hawala" charge: "Someone sent me this. There was an FIR but they went to court and got their names cleared. Subsequently, however, a PIL or writ petition has been filed. This is pending."
Responding to Dhankhar's charge that there was lack of transparency in the running of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and his demand for an audit by the CAG, Banerjee said: "He should be probed first." She then raised a series of questions: "How many people went with him (to Darjeeling)? How much money was spent on this visit? What happened at the governor's house? Who are the people who meet him regularly? All this should be probed first. An internal audit has already been conducted on GTA. Why CAG? Can't the state probe this? Why are they so angry with Darjeeling?"
"This is a dictatorial governor. He is dictating to everyone, from the highest authority in the state to officers. He is calling officers and saying: 'You are under scanner.' He is calling and saying: 'You are under threat.' Who is he to say all this rubbish? I have maintained silence till now but am being forced to speak. I will meet him if called and will respond to his calls. This is my courtesy. There is a constitution as well. And there are duties and responsibilities. I cannot accept that he will keep saying whatever he wants, will keep doing whatever he wants," the CM said.
Later, TMC responded to Dhankhar's press conference, reminding him that the governor was nothing but a "magnificent cipher".