It’s a state within state in WB: Governor
West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have been at loggerheads on more than one issue. The Governor, who completes a year in office in two months, spoke to Rajib Chowdhuri about his dissatisfaction with the state government.
How satisfied are you with governance in the state?
Governance in West Bengal is a cause of serious concern. The Chief Minister has scant regard for Constitutional prescriptions and her government is of the “state within state” type. Her confrontational stance with the Centre and its schemes has adversely impacted the people. While farmers all over India are getting benefit of PM-KISAN, 70 lakh farmers of West Bengal are denied the same. The state police and administration are thoroughly politicised to the extent that some call them workers of the ruling party.
You speak against the state government’s decisions frequently. The ministers counter you. Is this healthy for democracy and the federal structure?
It is my job as Governor to protect the Constitution. The enormity of the situation can be seen from the fact that one after the other, the ministers engage in most vituperative reflections against the office of the Governor. I do not believe in criticism of the state of affairs. My approach is to impart suggestions for the welfare of the people.
Would you have reacted the same way if the BJP instead of the Trinamul was in power?
The only script I follow is the Indian Constitution. I take counsel from all, but command only from the Constitution. The irony of the situation is that the government is determined to confine the role of the Governor to being just ‘ornamental.’
How do you rate the state government's efforts to tackle the pandemic?
In West Bengal, it is virtually a catastrophe in the making. The health system is broken. My biggest worry is that the poor must get food. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana entitles them to free ration at 5 kg rice per person per month and 1 kg dal per family per month. Even this, as per reports, is not reaching the eligible beneficiaries.
The Covid-19 pandemic has made the municipal elections uncertain. The state government has already appointed a board of administrators at the Kolkata Municipal Corporation with the same elected representatives. What is your take on the trend ahead of the Assembly polls next year?
The issue with respect to the notification on May 6 regarding the KMC is under my consideration. Unfortunately, the information sought by my office from the Chief Secretary is yet to be made available. My office sought the notification about the KMC entire decision-making process that culminated in the promulgation of the notification and the authority that took the decision regarding the notification. I evoked Article 167 and called upon the Chief Minister to perform her duties of imparting this information to me at the earliest. Her defiance of constitutional provisions is shocking.
Can there be an end to the ongoing tussle between Raj Bhavan and Nabanna? If so, when?
I have worked so as to have amiable relationship with the Government. Unfortunately, the CM has taken a confrontationist position. Her concept of the Governor’s role does not fit in the scheme of the Constitution. The Governor cannot be in ‘sleep mode’. I would surely want the government to be run in accordance with the Constitution and the CM must perform her duties qua the Office of the Governor in terms of Article 167.
THE ONLY script I follow is the Indian Constitution. I take counsel from all, but command only from the Constitution. JAGDEEP DHANKHAR,
West Bengal Governor