KOLKATA: Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar read out only the first and last paragraphs of the 18-page speech prepared for him by the state government for his first address to the new assembly after this year’s state election, leaving out portions about which he had “raised questions” with CM Mamata Banerjee on June 28.
The governor’s address came in the backdrop of a barrage of allegations and questions — from his “involvement” in a 1990s’ “hawala case” to “land deals in Punjab struck down by courts” — from the Trinamool Congress. There has been intense speculation about how he would handle the address — prepared by the Trinamool government, with which he has had several run-ins — after his “questions” and the Trinamool’s allegations.
Dhankhar finished his address in four minutes, with the din created by BJP MLAs against the “deliberate suppression of post-poll violence” coming in handy, and left the assembly.
The governor did not read out a paragraph on “post-poll violence”, and another on a “particular section” spreading fake news and trying to “divide people”.
Assembly speaker Biman Banerjee said the governor had told him that had not changed anything in the speech. “It is, therefore, the governor’s speech and nothing else will be put up for discussion,” he said.
Trinamool seniors called the governor’s selective reading “unprecedented” but former opposition leader and Congress MLA Abdul Mannan cited similar instances in the past.
“There have been several such instances. Governor Bhairab Dutt Pande had to leave the assembly via the rear exit door meant for the speaker without reading his address. There was a repeat with governor Viren J Shah as well,” Congress MLA Abdul Mannan said.
The governor did not read out a paragraph on “post-poll violence”. “The incidents occurred during the election period when the law-and-order machinery in the state was under the control, direction and superintendence of the Election Commission of India. After the new democratically elected government took over, immediate action was taken with the sharpest agility and strict impartiality and normalcy was restored soon,” the paragraph said.
Another paragraph that was in the address but which Dhankhar did not read out stated: “A particular section of politically biased people for their own vested interests has been spreading fake news, fake videos, half-truths, distorted versions of facts and blatant lies through their own social media network to defame the government. It is a political plan to tarnish the image of West Bengal when Bengal is the safest state and Kolkata is the safest city in the country.”
Another paragraph that Dhankhar did not read out was against a “section” trying to divide “people” staying in the state. “My government is also alarmed at the recent dangerous orchestrated and well-planned campaign being launched by certain vested interests belonging to a particular section of politically biased people to sow seeds of dividing the people of the state who have lived and coexisted peacefully over the years,” this paragraph stated.
“We respect the governor,” assembly opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari said after the governor’s speech, adding that the state government did not mention the post-poll “genocide”. “He protested against post-poll violence but the speech he delivered was prepared by the state government,” he added.
Trinamool leaders mocked Adhikari’s use of the word “genocide”. “Adhikari’s comments are devoid of any substance. His priority should be to work with the state to get more vaccines for Bengal,” state parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee said.
Trinamool MLAs, however, played it cool in the assembly, with the tone set by CM Banerjee. She and the assembly speaker came out of their chambers to receive Dhankhar as he reached the Vidhan Sabha at 1.48 p.m. The CM and the governor spoke to each other while paying tributes at Ambedkar’s statue and posed for photographers along with the speaker before entering the assembly.
