North 24 Parganas violence: Never threatened Mamata, asked her to ensure peace, says Governor
In the wake of clashes in North 24 Parganas district, Governor KN Tripathi has hit back at Mamata Banerjee for alleging that he threatened her, saying that he only asked her to ensure peace and maintain law and order.
In Short
- I told the governor he could not threaten me, am not here at BJP's mercy: Mamata.
- I've reached here on people's mandate; the Governor's is a nominated post, she said.
- Three companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in the volatile areas.
After West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi of threatening her over the phone over communal clashes that have been going on in North 24 Parganas since yesterday, the latter hit back, saying he didn't say anything to her that was threatening or humiliating but only asked to ensure peace and law and order.
Baduria area in North 24 Parganas district witnessed violence and torching of houses over an inflammatory Facebook post. In response to the post, a particular community took out a procession and vandalised shops and houses, demanding that the person, who wrote this post, be hanged.
After acts of violence continued unabated for 24 hours, the BJP leaders on Tuesday met Governor KN Tripathi in the afternoon.
Following the meeting, Tripathi called up the chief minister.
MAMATA's CHARGES
Mamata said, "The governor spoke objectionable things to me over the phone. The language he has used was highly insulting. I have never been insulted so much. He spoke like a block president of BJP. I made it clear to him that he cannot speak to me in such a manner or threaten me. I am not here at the mercy of BJP or the Governor. I have reached here on people's mandate, whereas the Governor's is a nominated post."
Attacking the BJP and people of both the communities involved in the North 24 Parganas violence for fomenting tension, the chief minister for the first time came down heavily on the minority community, which she felt was unnecessarily fanning communal tension, despite the person concerned having been arrested.
"I had to face so much humiliation because of you," she said.
GOVERNOR's VERSION
Expressing shock at the chief minister's harsh language, Governor Tripathi said that he was surprised at the attitude and language used by the chief minister. He said, "Talks were confidential in nature. No one is expected to disclose it. I am amazed she shared our conversation with the press. There was nothing in the talks for which the chief minister may have felt threatened or humiliated. I have asked the chief minister to ensure peace and law and order by all means. A governor cannot remain a mute spectator in the affairs of the state."
Meanwhile, three companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in the volatile areas. Talking about this, BJP leader Shamik Bhattacharya said that both the constitutional heads should forget their personal egos and help restore peace and normalcy in the area.
West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh, however, said that there was no reason for the chief minister to feel insulted if the governor thought it prudent to ask about the deteriorating law and order situation.
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