Governor J. Dhan Khar on Sunday hit out at the state government in West Bengal, days after it suggested that he be removed from the post of chancellor of state-run universities. State Education Minister B. Basu had tweeted on Friday that there was a need to “introspect” on whether the state needed to continue with the colonial legacy as the governor is the ex-officio chancellor of all state-run universities and instead eminent scholars.
He later suggested to the journalists that the chief minister should be made interim chancellor. “I was surprised that the education minister, who should have spoken to me, instead said the chief minister would be made chancellor” – Dhan Khar said after landing at the airport here on a week-long visit to North Bengal.
Meeting held on 23 December also:
However, the meeting fell through as the heads of most universities excused themselves. Attempts to hold the meeting on 23 December also failed, and the governor vented his anger on social media. An earlier attempt by him to convene a meeting of vice-chancellors or executive heads of state-run universities also went off without much trouble.
Governor Dhan Khar has been at odds with the state government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over several issues and over his attempts to exercise his powers as Chancellor. There is no paper, letter, discussion, consideration before the Governor regarding bifurcation of Howrah Municipal Corporation and creation of Bally Municipality,” he said. Municipality from Howrah Municipal Corporation on 24 November, with questions that were yet to be answered.
State Advocate General SN Mukherjee told the Calcutta High Court on Friday that the governor has given his assent to the bill, paving the way for separate elections for the two bodies. Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy, however, said that the state has sent replies to the questions raised by the governor regarding the bill which was earlier passed in the West Bengal Assembly.
This is purely politically motivated:
Saugata Roy, said that – “He (the governor) is deliberately trying to delay the elections to the Howrah Municipal Corporation and Bali Municipality. It is purely politically motivated,” he said. Questioning Dhan Khar’s claim that he had proposed the bill. He did not give his consent. BJP national vice president Dilip Ghosh, however, alleged that the Mamata Banerjee government was trying to convert the governor into a rubber stamp.
Dhan Khar, who has enjoyed a very friendly relationship with the TMC government since taking over as the governor in July, 2019, left no opportunity for both the sides to attack each other, even Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee There were critics. This is not good for the constitutional system.”
Banerjee on Saturday said she has written to President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing Dhan Khar of his “interference” in legislative matters.
The Speaker should be aware of the duties and responsible the governor said. He said that on two occasions he addressed the House, he was reminded of the Emergency era, as his “address” was black both times.
Dhan Khar said that when he went to visit the assembly for the first time, it was locked. Such conduct of the Speaker cannot be tolerated. S. Roy, objected to Dhan Khar’s remarks on the Speaker and said that the Governor is “crossing the border and has insulted Biman Banerjee in the past”.
