West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of remaining “silent when there was bloodshed” during alleged post-poll violence in the State.

 

Dhankhar also said the TMC Government could have easily prevented the situation from deteriorating by providing compensation and rehabilitation to affected families and through area domination to prevent violence. “There was bloodshed in the State. I should not say much as the matter is under investigation but the Chief Minister’s silence is a matter of concern and worry for me”, the Governor said after visiting the Ranpagli camp in Assam’s Dhubri district where people from Cooch Behar in West Bengal have allegedly taken shelter after announcement of election results. The Governor had on Thursday visited villages affected places in Cooch Behar district.

 

“Apprehending that the administration will not help them, these people had to flee from their homes and there cannot be anything more shameful for me and the Government than people having to take shelter in another State to save their lives,” Governor Dhankhar said.

 

People at the shelter claimed to have fled their homes in Bengal after the poll results were out on May 2. They also alleged that their houses were “ransacked by Trinamool Congress goons”. Post-poll violence in West Bengal has claimed 16 lives, with all parties including the ruling TMC complaining of attacks by rivals. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has promised strict corrective action and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for each of those killed, after assuming office on May 5.

 

She has blamed a lax administration under the watch of the Election Commission compounded by a series of transfers of State and district police chiefs ordered by the electoral watchdog, for the state of affairs. Dhankhar alleged “she (Banerjee) provoked her supporters, particularly women, to oppose central forces by various means. It is extremely painful to me that a Chief Minister should do this as this is antithetical to the rule of law. “Is it not evident who are the victims and who are the perpetrators of crime?” he asked after visiting the Ranpagli camp.

 

He said a Government should be positive and progressive but “I don’t understand this Government’s constant conflict with all - Centre, Governor, Election Commission of India and the central forces. Urging the Mamata Banerjee Government to shun confrontation, he said “we are going in a very wrong direction from which it will be very difficult to return.”

 

Dhankhar also defended the centres track record in distributing vaccines and said that distribution is done on the basis of gravity of situation in a state. The TMC Government has accused the Centre of discrimination over distribution of vaccines, claiming that some States were being given preference at the cost of others.

 

The Governor travelled to the camp in Assam’s Dhubri district by road from Cooch Behar as his helicopter could not take off owing to bad weather. He was accompanied by the BJP MP for Cooch Behar, Nisith Pramanik, raising eyebrows.