KOLKATA: Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar claimed on Monday that the TMC government has turned West Bengal into a “police state” and said that he would be forced to “look at” article 154 of the Constitution as his office has long been ignored by the administration. ruler.
Article 154 of the Constitution provides that the executive power of the state will correspond to the Governor and will be exercised by him directly or through officials subordinate to him.
Criticizing DGP Virendra for “being irresponsible and insensitive” in his response to a letter, Dhankhar said that police personnel are working as “cadres” for the ruling TMC.
“If the Constitution is not protected, I have to act. The governor’s office has been ignored for a long time. I will be forced to look at Article 154 of the Constitution,” he told a press meeting here.
The governor also said that “electronic surveillance by the TMC government” has forced it to communicate via WhatsApp voice calls.
“West Bengal has become a police state … Police state and democracy cannot go hand in hand. Law and order have collapsed in the state. The Maoist insurgency is raising its head. The terror modules They are also operating from this state, “said Governor added.
Dhankhar, who has been at odds with the TMC government since taking office in July 2019, had written to DGP Virendra earlier this month, expressing concern about the law and order situation in the state.
Following a two-line response from the DGP, he asked the state police chief to meet with him before September 26.
Chief Minister Mamata banerjee, in a letter to the governor on September 26, urged him to “act within the mandates of the Constitution,” expressing anguish over his letter to the DGP.
On video: TMC has turned West Bengal into a police state: Governor Jagdeep Dhankar
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