The state government seems to be surrounded by the case of rape and murder in RG Kar Hospital in West Bengal. Meanwhile, the Governor has refused to even be seen with the Chief Minister. He has also announced an open boycott of the CM and the Trinamool Congress supremo. Doctors are protesting against the crime in the hospital in many places including the capital Kolkata.
West Bengal Governor C.V. Anand Bose on Thursday said that he will not share any public platform with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in view of the public anger over the deadlock on the RG Kar Hospital issue. Bose also said in a video message that he will also socially boycott the Chief Minister.
Bose said, “I will not share any public platform with the Chief Minister. I will take action against him for violating constitutional provisions. My role as a Governor will be limited to constitutional obligations.” This message from the Governor came after the proposed meeting between the Chief Minister and the protesting junior doctors did not take place.
Bose said, “I am receiving a lot of questions and memoranda from various sections of the public about what action the governor is proposing to end the current crisis in Bengal. I am committed to the people of Bengal.”
Bose reiterated his commitment to the parents of the doctor of RG Kar Hospital who was allegedly raped and murdered. Along with this, he also reiterated his commitment to the people protesting for justice.
He said, ‘I believe that the government has failed in discharging its duties. The Home Minister has failed in her responsibility to maintain law and order.’ The Chief Minister is in charge of the Home and Health Department. The Governor said that he is issuing instructions to the Chief Minister for compliance under Article 167 of the Constitution.
Bose said he had asked Banerjee to call an emergency cabinet meeting in the wake of the RG Kar Hospital impasse. The governor has also sought a white paper on the government’s alleged financial mismanagement. However, these instructions were not followed.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee criticised the protesting doctors of West Bengal, calling them ‘inhuman and unfit to be doctors’ and urged the state government to ensure that they are not allowed to appear for their final exams. Banerjee’s anger erupted after the protesting doctors did not reach Nabanna for a meeting with the chief minister.
Banerjee told reporters here, “The doctors who have been protesting for the last one month risking the lives of lakhs of patients are not eligible to be doctors. They are not fit to be doctors. I fail to understand how these doctors behave so inhumanly. I will urge the state government to ensure that these protesting junior doctors are not allowed to appear in their final exams.”
Questions raised on police commissioner
According to media reports, he also raised questions on the Kolkata Police Commissioner. The Governor said, ‘I am saddened that allegations of criminal nature have been made against the top officer…’ He said, ‘The Kolkata Police Commissioner was not invited to the Independence Day program at Raj Bhavan, but he forcibly reached there. According to experts, this is of criminal nature.’
He said, ‘There was a demand for action against him for this. This was also brought to the notice of the Chief Minister, but no action was taken. Now strict action is needed against the Police Commissioner, because the law demands it… This is punishable under Section 329 of the Indian Justice Code.’
(With agency input)