Locked out, WB Guv says it’s insult to democracy

Tribune News Service

Kolkata, December 5

Ongoing tussle between the West Bengal Government and Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar took a nasty turn today when the latter arrived at the state Assembly only to find the gate meant for his entry locked.

After waiting for a while in front of the locked gate — used by the Governor for visiting the Assembly — Dhankhar entered through another gate. To his chagrin, Speaker Biman Banerjee and other senior members of the House were not there to meet him.

Dhankhar said he was invited to the Assembly by the Speaker asking him to come for lunch. He added the Assembly not being in session did not mean it was closed. “The Secretariat remains open,” the Governor said. He told mediapersons accompanying him the invite was communicated to his Special Secretary who received a call from the Secretary of the Assembly.

“Today the Speaker’s action has brought shame to the legislature,” Dhankhar said, adding he would write to the Speaker. “This is shameful, it is also belittling the office of the Speaker,” he said.

“Democracy is being humiliated, not me. It reflects we are trying to cage democracy. This is an insult to the people of the state and the Constitution,” he said.

Incidentally, winter session of the Assembly, which began on November 26, was suspended by the Speaker for Wednesday and Thursday saying Bills slated to be placed in the Assembly were yet to get the Governor’s nod. Dhankhar, however, said he had promptly acted on every Bill, reiterating he was “neither a rubber stamp nor a post office”.

The development comes a day after the Governor during his visit to Calcutta University found the Vice-Chancellor’s office locked and the V-C missing.