Kolkata: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar on Friday attacked three ministers for their take on his statement that he was “blacked out” from the Durga Puja carnival. The three cabinet ministers are Subrata Mukherjee, Partha Chatterjee and Tapas Roy.
He reminded them that he is neither a “tourist” to the state nor a “loose cannon” that he would cross his “Lakshmanrekha.”
Describing himself as “active”, Dhankar made it clear that he would continue to discharge his constitutional role within its ambit being in the Governor’s office. He also appealed to the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to “restrain” her cabinet colleagues.
At the Jadavpur University, he said, “Some people said why I kept silent for days. I am really surprised. Constitutional functionaries can not be loose cannons. It is for the CM to examine their statements. I have never reacted in public to what happens between me and the Chief Minister.”
Dhankar elaborated, “It is job of the Governor to be representative of the Centre and also to look into the interests of the state. That is what I am doing. You will always find me acting within my parameters. There have been painful statements by ministers. One of them wants me to be a tourist.”
He said, “I am sure none you here will approve that the Governor has to be a tourist. It was a public statement. I thought some editorials would come out on it. I can not be a tourist. I am a Governor. I have to do my constitutional duty. One of them called my visit to Siliguri as a gimmick. I am surprised.”
