Dhankhar raps Mamata for ‘justifying” blockade of Governor in Assembly

Kolkata, Mar 9 : West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankar on Wednesday came down heavily on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her alleged “appreciation” of her party Trinamool Congress’ women legislators, who had surrounded him during his address at the budget session of the assembly on March 7. ” There can be no justification to sanctify, much less applaud, ‘gherao/blockade’ of Guv in the hallowed precincts of august WBLA,” the Governor posted on his Twitter account. Dhankhar’s latest reaction came a day after Banerjee on Tuesday thanked her women lawmakers, and said they had upheld the honour of the state assembly and democracy. ” Thanks to my women brigade, … they upheld the honour of the assembly as well as the honour of the democracy. This will be a lesson for others in the future,” Banerjee said while addressing her party leaders at the Nazrul Manch. The governor also posted the speech of the chief minister on his Twitter post and asked ” Hon’ble CM applauding What ! “Disorder” in House !.” . He said ” There can be no justification to sanctify, much less applaud, ‘gherao/blockade’ of Guv in the hallowed precincts of august WBLA. Reflect !! Where are we heading ! and Why! Hon’ble CM applauding What! “Disorder” in House! We all need to work to blossom democracy.” Meanwhile, the governor has summoned the State Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee to fix a time for a meeting in next three days in view of the ruckus on the floor of the house on the opening day of the budget session. Uproar was witnessed in the house as the BJP legislators, headed by the leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari shouted slogans when Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar was to deliver his inaugural address. They were protesting against the Trinamool for allegedly resorting to violent means to win the recent civic polls. Appeals made by the Governor and Speaker Biman Banerjee went unheeded and then the Governor rose from his seat to leave the House. However, the Speaker, the Chief Minister and other Trinamool members urged him to read at least one line from his speech and announce the rest of the address be regarded “as read”. As the Governor again attempted to leave the house, the TMC women legislators had formed a ring around him to prevent him from leaving. The Governor finally read one line each in the beginning and end of his speech and left. ” Urged Speaker WBLA for a meeting in next three days in view of “unseemly ruckus and chaotic spectacle unfolded in the hallowed precincts of the august WB Assembly on March 07 during Governor Address under article 176 when decorum and propriety nosedived to lowest nadir,” a tweet from Raj Bhavan said. PC SSP RN