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Calling the “situation” in West Bengal “very, very disturbing”, Governor CV Ananda Bose on Thursday in yet another strong message to the TMC government in the state said, “death knell of democracy should not ring in the hands of its custodian”.
The Governor made the remarks after meeting leaders of various political parties at Circuit House in Siliguri.
“The death knell of democracy must not ring in the hands of its custodian. We must take care of that… What is happening in the field is very, very disturbing. That is what the (high) court has reflected in its various pronouncements and observations. We will certainly see that the present trend is reversed, and there is peace and harmony in society. Every citizen will be able to cast his vote freely and fearlessly — that is a commitment and we are trying to take it forward,” Bose said.
Stressing that he would continue to visit violence-hit areas to have first-hand knowledge of what is happening, the Governor, who is currently on a short trip to the northern districts of the state, said: “I am the ground zero governor. I went to different places for my satisfaction. I spoke to the victims.”
At the meeting, a delegation of BJP alliance partners from the Darjeeling region, led by BJP MP Raju Bista, was present. The BJP MLA of Darjeeling, Neeraj Zimba, and others were also present. Sources said that GJM leader Bimal Gurung and Hamro Party chief Ajoy Edwards were not present at the meeting.
At the meeting with the Governor, the BJP demanded that Central force should remain deployed in the state even after the elections are over to prevent post-poll violence. “There are chances of post-poll violence in the state, especially in the Darjeeling hills. That’s why Central forces must remain in the state for six weeks after election results are declared. We have made a demand in this regard before the Governor,” Bista said after the meeting.
Meanwhile, the ruling TMC criticised the Governor. “The Governor has become a BJP cadre. He has deviated from performing raj dharma. He is listening only to the BJP. He is trying his best to strengthen Opposition’s hands ahead of the polls. He is acting in a biased manner. We strongly condemn such one-sided behaviour from the Governor,” TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said.
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