Media scared to question Mamata: WB Governor
Claiming that the media was "scared" to ask questions to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday urged journalists to show courage, shed their fears and pose queries where they needed to. Interacting with mediapersons outside the assembly, he took potshots targeting the CM and other high government functionaries in the state.
"I will take all your difficult questions. But there are people who you don't question, or you cannot question," Dhankhar said on a dramatic day when he went to the assembly only to find the gate number three earmarked for the entry of the governor and other VVIPs was locked. When a reporter sought his reaction on criticism from the ruling Trinamool Congress that he was trying to grab headlines, Dhankhar said, "Should I not go to a university, should I not come to the assembly? Should the senate meeting at the Calcutta University be cancelled?"
Dhankhar said he has taken an oath to preserve, protect and defend the constitution and the law, and devote himself to the service and well-being of the people of West Bengal. "Tell me how I violated it, rather than scripting it as they are saying. I know there is difficulty for you to ask questions to them. Please pick up the courage, shed your fears, ask questions where you need to ask," he said.
When a reporter said journalists ask people all kinds of questions, Dhankhar shot back, "Have you asked the CM whether the governor is a tourist? Have you asked her whether the governor should communicate with the her only through 'didi ke bolo' (a mass outreach programme of the state government)?" "Did you ask the her why she failed to perform her constitutional duty in the last four month and never briefed the governor once, even on Cyclone Bulbul (that hit the coastal districts last month)?" he said.
Earlier, senior minister Partha Chatterjee had suggested the governor confine himself to visiting the beautiful sites in the state and enjoy the hospitality of the government. Dhankhar had taken strong exception to being virtually called a "tourist" and since then referred to it multiple times.