West Bengal Governor to Didi: Post-poll violence ‘state-driven’

Shubhadeep Choudhury

Tribune News Service

Kolkata, June 15

Shortly before leaving for Delhi to meet Home Minister Amit Shah, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday shot off a letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying the post-poll violence in the state was “worst since Independence”.

He said the “studied silence” maintained by the CM on the issue forced him to conclude that the violence was “state-driven”. He expressed surprise that the CM did not consider discussing the “grave human tragedy” in the Cabinet.

“With a heavy heart, I am constrained to observe your continued silence and inaction over post-poll bloodshed, violation of human rights, assault on women and destruction of property — worst since Independence — and it ill augurs for democracy,” the Governor said in the letter.

Dhankhar urged Banerjee to deliberate the issue in the Cabinet and rehabilitate the victims and compensate them for their losses.

Recalling his recent visit to camps in Assam where political refugees from Bengal had taken shelter, Dhankhar said the victims told him “heart rendering tales of arson, loot, rape and killings”.

He also made a reference to the sit-in by Banerjee at the CBI office last month to protest the arrest of her two Cabinet colleagues in connection with the Narada sting video case. In Delhi for a three-day official tour, Dhankhar is expected to brief top leaders about the situation prevailing in the state. 

Dhankhar in Delhi to meet top leaders

• In a letter to CM Mamata Banerjee, the WB Governor said her silence proved the violence was ‘state-driven’
• Dhankhar told her to rehabilitate victims and compensate them
• He is expected to meet top leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah, in Delhi