WB Guv, CM told to maintain decorum

While the situation continued to be tense and more clashes were reported from riot-hit Baduria in West Bangal’s North 24 Paraganas district, the war of words between the Trinamul and Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi intensified rather than abating.

Home minister Rajnath Singh had to step in to remind both, the Governor and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, to maintain “decorum”.

In separate telephonic conversations with the Chief Minister and the Governor, Mr Singh also told them to resolve the issue amicably.

While the situation continued to be tense and more clashes were reported from riot-hit Baduria in West Bengal’s North 24 Paraganas district, the war of words between the Trinamul and Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi intensified rather than abating.

Home minister Rajnath Singh had to step in to remind both, the Governor and state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, to maintain “decorum.”

In separate telephonic conversations with the Chief Minister and the Governor, Mr Singh also cautioned them not to make public statement about official business and to resolve the issue amicably.

He asked them to focus on improving the law and order situation in the violence-hit district and to submit a report spelling out the steps taken to restore normalcy in the affected areas.

On Wednesday, Trinamul secretary general Partha Chatterjee fired the first salvo in Kolkata. “The governor has crossed the constitutional line,” he said, referring to Ms Banerjee’s accusation that the governor had insulted her.

Raj Bhavan retaliated with a press statement in the evening, its second on the issue in 24 hours, where the governor was quoted as saying that the allegations made against him by the chief minister “amount to insulting and humiliating the governor and his office.”

Accusing the Chief Minister of trying to cover the government’s lapses and divert attention from the real issue, Mr Tripathi said, “Mamata Banerjee’s allegations against me are baseless, they are meant only to emotionally blackmail the people of West Bengal.”

IN his statement on Wednesday, the Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi said that “instead of making accusations against him, it is better for the CM and her colleagues to direct their attention to maintain peace and law and order in the state

Family members of an Odisha woman who died on Tuesday at a hospital had to carry the body on their shoulders after allegedly failing to get a hearse, which the state has to provide under the Mahaprayan scheme.