West Bengal Governor Stumped as Flogged Couple Refuses Meeting
Kolkata: West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose was stumped on Tuesday when he flew from New Delhi to Siliguri to visit the injured couple, flogged by a Trinamul Congress strongman Tajemul Islam alias ‘JCB’ in public at Chopra of North Dinajpur over an affair, but the victims refused to meet him.
In the morning, Mr Bose reached Bagdogra Airport in Siliguri to reach Chopra by road. He was supposed to submit a report to the Centre on the brutality as BJP has been vocal against the TMC nationally on the incident. Mr Bose however learnt that the the couple did not want to meet him.
He cancelled his visit and met some BJP workers from Coochbehar, who became targets of post-poll violence, at Siliguri state guest house. The governor said, “I welcome their (the couple) decision. They are free to meet me at Raj Bhavan in Kolkata later or can narrate their ordeal to me virtually.”
Attacking chief minister Mamata Banerjee, he pointed out, “I am here not only as a governor but as the friend of the unfriended poor...Violence has become a norm, rather than an exception. The responsibility lies with the home minister of the state.”
Mr Bose added, “As a governor, it is my constitutional duty to see that the right to life is not tampered with. I assure you that the Constitution and the rights of people are protected. The culture of violence has to go. Murders most fowl seen in most parts of West Bengal.” He later returned to the national capital.
Meanwhile the TMC has served a showcause notice to its Chopra MLA Hamidul Rahman for his controversial remark, “Our Muslim State has some rules…,” to back the act of Tajemul, who is also his aide and was later arrested by the police. Mr Rahman has been asked for his explanation within seven days.