Mamata, bureaucrats skip event

KOLKATA:THE acrimony between Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and chief minister Mamata Banerjee took a new turn on Wednesday when Banerjee skipped a programme at Raj Bhawan where she was invited to unveil a portrait of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Dhankhar said he was pained by the absence of Banerjee and senior state bureaucrats who were informed about the programme in November.

“I understand that as chief minister she (Banerjee) could be having several pressing engagements. But she did not even send a representative,” said Dhankhar. Incidentally, the chief minister, who served in Vajpayee’s Cabinet from 2001 to 2004, paid her respects through her first tweet of the day.

“Tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji on his birth anniversary. He was a statesman who rose above partisan politics for the country’s good. We miss him a lot,” tweeted Banerjee

At Raj Bhawan, Dhankhar said, “Atal Ji used to say you may not agree on every point of view. Disagreement doesn’t make you enemies,” said the governo.

“I personally know that from 2001 to 2004 Ajal Ji contributed hugely to the career prospects of the honourable chief minister,” he added. “I am not for a moment saying she (Banerjee) had to be here to unveil (the portrait). As chief minister she may have many engagements. But the lack of acknowledgement has hurt me. Lack of representation from the side of the government and bureaucracy has hurt me,” the governor said.

“Individuals can carry the baggage of the past. A governor and a chief minister cannot carry the baggage of the past,” said Dhankhar and referred so some recent incidents that led to sharp differences between the government and Raj Bhawan.