Monday’s development comes amid escalating tensions and a series of showdowns between the Governor and the Bengal government. On Sunday, Dhankar had said people view West Bengal as a “gas chamber of democracy” and alleged “trampling of human rights”. (FIle photo) The open war between Mamata Banerjee and Jagdeep Dhankhar spilled over to Twitter on Monday, with the West Bengal Chief Minister blocking the Governor on the social media platform and the latter responding with a series of tweets on the “essence and spirit of democracy” and saying the CM’s move was “against constitutional norms”.
On Monday, after a Cabinet meeting at the secretariat, Banerjee spoke to the media and said she was “forced” to block Dhankhar on Twitter because of his “unethical and unconstitutional” statements. She also alleged that the Governor was acting like a “super guard” and treating government officials like “his servants”.
“I am sorry to say I was forced to do this. Every day, he (Governor) abuses me and our officers using unethical and unconstitutional words. He hands out instructions as if we are his servants or bonded labourers. The elected Government is bonded labour, but he, someone who is only nominated, is a super guard. Every day after seeing his tweet, I become irritated.”
Accusing Dhankar of threatening everyone from “CBI to ED, Customs to Kolkata Police Commissioner, Police Commissioner of Kolkata to DG, Chief Secretary to Home Secretary, DMs to SPs”, Banerjee said she had written to the PM “four times” on the issue.
Banerjee also accused Dhankar of “spying on everybody from Raj Bhavan… Pegasus is going on in Raj Bhavan.”
After Banerjee’s press conference, TMC leaders followed Banerjee to block the Governor’s on Twitter. TMC MP Derek O’Brian tweeted, “@MamataOfficial Chairperson of @AITCofficial just blocked The-Tweet-A-Minute Governor of Bengal on Twitter. Good. Doing the same. Blocking @jdhankhar1.”
Soon after, the Governor issued a series of tweets, one of which said, “Guv WB: Mandated under Article 159 of the Constitution to ensure none in the state ‘blocks’ Constitutional Norms and Rules of Law and those in authority ‘bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India’.”
Another tweet read, “WB Guv: Under Article 167 it is Constitution ‘duty’ of the Chief Minister to furnish such information relating to the administration of the affairs of the State and proposals for legislation as the Governor may call for. Why ‘block’ information to Guv now for two years?”
Guv WB : Mandated under Article 159 of the Constitution to ensure none in the state “blocks” Constitutional Norms and Rules of Law and those in authority “bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India” pic.twitter.com/gGDf3doAyJ
— Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) January 31, 2022
He also said, “WB Guv Message to Hon’ble CM on her WHATSAPP today and read by her at 10.25 am today- ‘Dialogue and harmony amongst constitutional functionaries is essence and spirit of democracy and mandate of the constitution…'”
WB Guv Message to Hon’ble CM on her WHATSAPP today and read by her at 10.25 am today-
“Dialogue and harmony amongst constitutional functionaries is essence and spirit of democracy and mandate of the constitution.
This can blossom with mutual regard and respect…1/2— Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) January 31, 2022
Reacting to Banerjee’s move, BJP president Sukanta Majumder said, “The Governor asked some questions of the Chief Minister. She could not answer and she fled.”
CPM leader Sujan Chakraborty said, “If she knew that Raj Bhavan was snooping on others, she has to spell it out and clarify. It is a serious allegation.”
Monday’s development comes amid escalating tensions and a series of showdown between the Governor and the Bengal government. On Sunday, Dhankar had said people view West Bengal as a “gas chamber of democracy” and alleged “trampling of human rights”.
Also, in a note dated January 28, Dhankar had asked Chief Secretary B P Gopalika to brief him on the alleged obstructions to the movement of Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari. The Governor had earlier sought the physical presence of the chief secretary and the DGP on the issue.
On January 27, during a virtual meeting with TMCs MPs, Banerjee had asked them to bring a motion in Parliament against Dhankar.
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