Mamata Banerjee blackmailing people, says Governor KN Tripathi

KOLKATA: The face-off between Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi over communal violence in Baduria in North 24 Paraganas took a serious turn with Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee calling him a “cadre of BJP” and Raj Bhavan as “BJP’s party office”.

In a sharp reaction, Governor issued another statement terming Chatterjee’s words an “attempt to cover the lapses of the state government and divert the attention from the main issue of law and order.” Governor in his statement said he was “fully aware of his constitutional obligations and limitations and needs no lesson from anyone on this count.”

He said, “ In fact, the allegations of the chief minister amount to insulting and humiliating the governor and his office. Raj Bhavan is not a department of the state government and it is open to every citizen to approach him for redressal of his or her grievances. It is wrong to say that Raj Bhavan has become the office of the BJP or the RSS.” Governor mainatined that he “did not utter a single word to insult or threaten the chief minister.” He clarified, “Her allegation is baseless and meant only to emotionally blackmail the people of West Bengal.”

Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Banerjee and Tripathi and tried to defuse tension. However, Baduria remained tense on the third day of communal violence.