The Trinamool Congress continued its demonstration outside the Raj Bhavan against Bengal’s MGNREGA dues for a fourth day even as CBI conducted searches at the houses of two of the party’s top leaders Firhad Hakim and Madan Mitra in connection with the alleged irregularities in recruitments made by civic bodies on Sunday.
The CBI on Sunday conducted searches at 12 locations, including at the residences of Hakim and Mitra, across the state in connection with the alleged irregularities in recruitments made by civic bodies.
During the ruling party’s ‘Raj Bhavan Chalo’ protest, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee slammed Governor CV Ananda Bose for writing to state Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi and inquiring whether permission was granted for the TMC’s ongoing sit-in demonstration outside Raj Bhavan.
Sources said that Bose wanted to know how could the police allow the demonstration in front of the Raj Bhavan, as prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC are imposed at 150-metre area radius of the complex round the year.
Addressing party leaders and workers outside Raj Bhavan, Banerjee questioned the Governor’s ‘concern for democracy’ when ‘BJP leaders held public programmes’. ‘When BJP leaders hold public programmes in Raj Bhavan lawns under the garb of meeting the Governor, where is the concern for democracy that is now being displayed? The Governor questioned how a dharna was allowed at a place where Section 144 is imposed. What about the six times BJP leaders held marches to Raj Bhavan between 2021-2023? The dates of these events are as follows: twice in 2021 (June 15 and August 10); twice in 2022 (July 12 and October 10); and twice this year (April 28 and September 27).’ Banerjee was seen seated at a makeshift stage along with Hakim, Mitra and other party leaders.
The Diamond Harbour MP said the most recent protest march by BJP MLAs was held just a month ago over the announcement of April 15 as the ‘Bangla Dibas’ by the state government. ‘Why wasn’t a letter sent to the police then? He is Bengal’s Governor and not BJP’s Governor. When BJP leaders held a march and press interactions with 100 people, where was the concern for violating Sec 144 and his sense of duty?’
In a veiled attack at former Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, Banerjee said, ‘The previous Governor of West Bengal has been rewarded for continuously opposing the West Bengal government. As a reward, he was made the Vice President of India.’
The TMC leader also interacted with the beneficiaries of Prime Minister Awas Yojana.
Talking about the delayed payment of MGNREGA dues, he said, ‘Around Rs 3,800 crore were due solely under the wages-related category for the entire state. With interest, Bengal must be paid Rs 5,187 crore. The Governor must mention in the letter to the Centre that interest is calculated beyond the 16th day of closure of the master roll if the wages are not cleared. Nobody held BJP accountable for so many days but we won’t let this slide.’
Meanwhile, late Sunday night the ruling party announced that Governor Bose has agreed to meet a TMC delegation led by Abhishek Banerjee on Monday at 4pm at the Raj Bhavan
