TMC cries foul as Governor Dhankhar set to visit violence-hit areas

Dhankar will visit Cooch Behar district on May 13

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ITDC NEWS The face-off between the Mamata Banerjee government and the Raj Bhavan escalated further with Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar deciding to visit areas hit by violence after the announcement of the assembly poll results. The ruling Trinamool Congress flayed Dhankar’s move and accused him of behaving in a manner ''unbecoming''' of one holding the gubernatorial post.

The governor had said on Tuesday he would visit the Cooch Behar district on May 13.

"Being a lawyer I cannot recall any other instance of a governor behaving in such a manner. It is unbecoming of one who holds the gubernatorial post. I think it is aimed at influencing the judiciary as a case is being heard in Calcutta High Court," TMC MP Kalyan Bandyopadhyay said. State minister Rabindranath Ghosh, too, echoed Bandyopadhyay’s views and said the governor’s visit would disrupt the peaceful situation in the area.

The high court is hearing a PIL filed by lawyer petitioner Anindya Sundar Das on the post-poll violence in Cooch Behar district where at least 16 people were killed.

The BJP countered TMC’s allegations and said there was nothing wrong if the governor wanted to visit the placed hit by violence. "They (TMC) have got the mandate of people. Then why are they upset if the governor of the state wants to meet the people? Are the injured and affected in political violence not residents of Bengal?" BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya asked.