WB gov shown black flags during visit to Cooch Behar
Cooch Behar (West Bengal),
May 13: West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar was on Thursday shown black flags at Sitalkuchi, where four villagers died after firing by Central forces during the elections, while “go back” slogans were raised at Dinhata during his visit to Cooch Behar district to meet people allegedly affected in post poll violence.
Earlier in the day, governor Dhankhar, who is on a controversial visit to assess post-poll violence in the district, said he was shocked by incidents of attacks following the West Bengal Assembly elections.
The run up to the visit was marked by a war of words between the governor and CM Mamata Banerjee with the chief minister writing a letter on Wednesday claiming the visit violated established norms as it was being undertaken unilaterally without consultations with the state government.
Cooch Behar/Kolkata, May 13: West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar was on Thursday shown black flags at Sitalkuchi when he went there to visit people allegedly affected in post poll violence. Four persons were killed in a shooting by CISF staff on April 10 during the Assembly polls.
Mr Dhankhar was shown black flags by some people at Golokganj as his convoy travelled from Mathabhanga to Sitalkuchi though a posse of policemen put up a human wall to prevent protesters from coming down on the road.
During his visit, Mr Dhankhar was accompanied by Cooch Behar Lok Sabha member Nisith Pramanik of the BJP and the president of the party.
Claiming that people, who cast their votes as per their choice, are being subjected to attacks in West Bengal, Mr Dhankhar said while the country is facing the Covid crisis, the state is grappling with the twin challenges of the pandemic and the post-poll violence.
The governor said he was shocked by incidents of attack following the West Bengal Assembly pollss, and decided to visit various places affected by the post-poll violence in the interest of the people.
“The country is facing the Covid crisis, and West Bengal is facing twin challenges of the pandemic and unprecedented postpoll violence only on the ground that some people decided to vote as per their own choice,” he said while embarking on a visit to various places in Cooch Behar district.
He said the Mamata Banerjee government must ensure that everyone who took the law into their hands must be brought to justice.
The Trinamul Congress alleged that governor Jagdeep Dhankhar violated constitutional provisions. “He (Dhankhar) did not listen to the state government and went to Cooch Behar. He went there in the company of a BJP leader. His conduct is unconstitutional,” veteran MP and party spokesperson Sougata Ray said.
“Previously we had written a letter to the president against this governor. If the CM says, we will send another letter against him to the president,” Mr Ray told reporters.