Kolkata: After weeks of hostility and war of words between the West Bengal Governor and the chief minister, the state assembly was witness to a few moments of what appeared to be bonhomie between the two — it also included a bouquet of flowers.
On Friday, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar delivered the opening speech of the Budget Session — which contained Mamata Banerjee’s stand against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) — with words such as “divisive India”, “majoritarianism” and “intolerance” all thrown in.
On Thursday, Dhankar had issued a statement to the media, saying he had requested the state government to add and replace certain paragraphs from the speech. But the request was not accepted.
He had also said he would not cross the “Lakshman Rekha”, and the Governor kept his word.
The Budget Session will start from Monday.
That Dhankar and Mamata share frosty ties is no secret. The two often had conflict even on issues like Dhankar’s sitting arrangement in a Durga Puja carnival and a locked gate of the state assembly, which is meant for the governor’s entry.
Their war of words continued over the CAA too and the protests that Mamata held over the contentious legislation.
Friday’s development, therefore, was a welcome change from what has been the case so far.
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Had a good discussion with the CM: Dhankar
According to sources in the government, the thaw in the relationship between the governor and the state government is a result of a call made to Dhankar by Mamata on 4 February.
State Education and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee even met Dhankar on 3 February. Besides Chatterjee, state Finance Minister Amit Mitra and top civil servants also went to Raj Bhavan to discuss several issues with the governor, a source in the Raj Bhavan said.
This came after several months of no communication between the government and the Raj Bhavan.
There have been instances where civil servants, vice-chancellors of universities and even ministers avoided meeting the governor, despite requests from Raj Bhavan.
Dhankar had even written to the chief minister, seeking briefing on several issues in the past, but never got any responses, said the Raj Bhavan source.
Under such circumstances, things started taking a positive turn after Mamata sent her chief secretary Rajiva Sinha to meet the governor on 4 February and the same day, she called him too.
Talking to ThePrint, Dhankhar said, “The chief minister called me. We spoke for 10 minutes. She also sent the chief secretary and we had a good discussion.”
About possibilities of future meetings with the CM, the governor said “we would meet frequently as dialogues and deliberations are needed” for a healthy democracy and for the sake of the state.
On his speech, he said, “I am only controlled by the Constitution. It is my duty to protect it. I will not overstep my Constitutional limitations.”
Mamata had the last laugh
Given how Dhankar and Mamata were at loggerheads with each other, there was apprehension that the governor might do a repeat of what Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan did last month.
Khan had read out a paragraph containing criticism of the CAA at the state assembly, despite disagreeing with it.
Mamata seemed to have had the last laugh by incorporating in the governor’s speech paragraphs that talked about a “divisive India”, “majoritarianism” and “intolerance”.
“Spreading misinformation is the order of the day and rejection of all forms of dissent is the new fashion in the name of patriotism. Centuries-old tradition of religious pluralism has been challenged by the tyranny of majoritarianism donning the guise of democracy,” the governor read out from the speech.
“There is a general air of intolerance, bigotry and hatred that is straining the variegated thread of unity tying together all the linguistic, religious and ethnic diversities in the country,” he added.
“The state government is strongly against division of people in the name of steps like National Population Register or National Register of Citizens or Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019.”
Happy ending
At the end of the governor’s speech in the assembly, Trinamool Congress MLAs wished Dhankar with folded hands.
Before leaving the assembly, Dhankar and Mamata spoke for 30 minutes at the chamber of the Speaker.
After the meeting, Mamata gave Dhankar a bouquet and accompanied him to his car.
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