In caustic comments directed at the West Bengal government after the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a Kolkata hospital and the subsequent vandalism in the campus, Governor CV Ananda Bose has said “vandals and scandals” are marring civic life in the state.

Mincing no words in a wide-ranging interview with NDTV on Friday, the West Bengal governor held Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee responsible for the situation in the state, claimed women medical students have told him that their families want them to leave the profession, and said it was disheartening that such incidents were taking place in a land where one of its most illustrious sons had spoken of the mind being without fear.

Mr Bose also said that he has opened a home in the Raj Bhavan, named after the 31-year-old trainee doctor who was raped and killed at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last week. The woman has been given the name ‘Abhaya’ (fearless) and the governor said students who feel threatened will be valued guests at the ‘Abhaya Home’. 

To a question on the politics that has come to surround the handling of the investigation and the protests by doctors and medical students, the governor said, “Scandals and vandals are marring the civic life of Bengal. I was interacting with some medical students. They told me, ‘Please deliver us from the fear psychosis. Please give us protection. We have no security inside the campus and now there is no security outside.’ That is the wailing of the youth, particularly those in the medical profession.”

“Some of the girl students told me they have nowhere to go, they have no security. ‘Our parents are asking us to leave the profession, give back the bond money. Come back. Life is more important than this,’ they told me,” he said, adding that a girl was afraid the “goons” would follow her to her rural posting. 

‘What Bengal Thinks Today…’

Stating that youth are neither creations of the past nor custodians of the present, Mr Bose said they are the creators of the future and it was distressing to see them having to plead for their security like this. 

“What happens on the street in the name of politics is none of my business. But the fact remains that there is a growing fear in Bengal’s society. There is violence everywhere. And all this is happening in Bengal, about which Gopalkrishna Gokhale once said, ‘What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow’. Is this the same Bengal about which Rabindranath Tagore said, ‘Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high’? Democracy is plummeting into mobocracy. That is the distressing spectacle that we see around us. That’s what worries me as a governor,” he said.

Abhaya Home

The governor said he has faith in the CBI, which is investigating the case, and detailed a three-pronged approach that he has taken to ensure that the students’ grievances are addressed.

He said he has utilised his powers under Article 167 of the Constitution and given instructions to the chief minister, apart from taking up the matter with the Centre.

The third measure, an interim one, is the opening of the ‘Abhaya Home’ at Raj Bhavan, the governor’s official residence. 

“Any student who feels threatened can come here. They will be honoured guests, valued guests of the governor. Whatever other long-term measures are to be taken, I have already taken up with the state government as well as with the central government, including adequate legislation guaranteeing security for medicos and paramedics… Everything that is possible for confidence building will be done,” Mr Bose emphasised.

President’s Rule?

Employing wordplay and keeping his cards close to his chest while answering a question on the opposition’s demand for President’s Rule in West Bengal, the governor said, “Demand is demand, let’s see what the supply is. As governor, I would like to be circumspect on such issues. The Constitution has many options. I reserve my options at this moment… I do not want to come out in the public domain about what I’m going to do next under the Constitution of India”. 

‘Chief Minister Responsible 1st, 2nd and 3rd’

Holding Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee responsible for what is happening in West Bengal, the Governor said that while the cabinet has collective responsibility, the buck stops with her. 

“The cabinet has collective responsibility. Whatever happens in the state, the first responsibility is that of the chief minister, the second responsibility is that of the chief minister and the third responsibility is that of the chief minister,” he said.

Mr Bose insisted he has been getting frantic calls from medical professionals all over India, who have told him they are afraid. 

“The medical fraternity stood as a one-man army against Covid and saved this country. We owe it to them. They don’t deserve such treatment. It is said medicines can cure diseases but only a doctor can cure patients. That is the importance of the medical fraternity, including the paramedics. We cannot let them down,” he stressed. 

The Calcutta High Court on Friday directed that Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is free to make any statement concerning Governor C V Ananda Bose, not crossing the contours of freedom of speech and public duty.

“Otherwise, the appellants run the risk of being exposed to a claim for heavy damages and other retaliatory actions,” the division bench, comprising Justices Biswaroop Chowdhury and I P Mukerji, said modifying the single bench order.

Ms Banerjee and Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh had moved an appeal before a division bench, challenging an interim order by a single bench directing the Chief Minister and three others not to make any defamatory or incorrect statement against the Governor by way of publication and on social platforms till August 14.

The court noted that the lawyers for the respondents in the defamation suit have “very correctly stated” that the statements referred to in the body of the judgment of the single judge “have not even prima facie been declared to be defamatory of his excellency or incorrect”.

“In the absence of such declaration, what is the defamatory statement referred to in the impugned order which is being restrained from being published in future is not known. This order applies to statements being made by the appellants in future,” the division bench said.

Passing the order, it observed that a man’s reputation is sacrosanct to him and that the law gives him the right to protect it.

“An important part of this reputation is his moral character,” the court observed, noting that the freedom of speech and expression is conferred on every citizen of India as a fundamental right.

Holding that this right “cannot be throttled or gagged”, the bench said this freedom of expression is subject to reasonable restrictions.

The court said one of the restrictions applicable in this case is the restriction that applies to words, spoken or written, that tend to defame others.

The bench observed that public has the right to know the truth and if the truth is in the public interest, a member of the public has every right to expose it.

“If this right is vested in every citizen, such right is vested with more responsibility in the Chief Minister,” it said.

The bench also said that expression of this freedom is, however, subject to certain conditions under the law of defamation.

“The first is that it should stand the test of justification or truth or must be a fair comment or the maker of the statement must owe a duty to the persons to whom the defamatory statement was published, which is described as qualified privilege.

“If the maker fails the test he is liable to pay damages in the civil action and may be charged with commission of an offence,” the bench observed.

Mr Bose had sought to restrain Ms Banerjee, two newly elected MLAs and another Trinamool Congress leader from issuing remarks in connection with alleged incidents at Raj Bhavan.

The Bengal Governor filed the defamation suit against Mamata Banerjee’s comment that women had expressed fear about visiting the Raj Bhavan, which he said were “erroneous and slanderous impressions”.

The Chief Minister made the comment while expressing her displeasure over the confusion regarding the oath-taking ceremony of two newly elected party MLAs. She had backed their decision of not accepting the Governor’s invitation to go to Raj Bhavan and attend the oath ceremony there.

The MLAs, Sayantika Banerjee and Reyat Hossain Sarkar, had written to him seeking to take oath at the assembly.

Kolkata:

Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has flagged protocol violation during his visit to Siliguri yesterday, in a letter to the state government, sources have told NDTV.

The Governor flew in from Delhi to meet the victims of the recent violence at Siliguri State Guest House.

There have been incidents of violence in Bengal since last year’s panchayat elections but this cannot continue, Mr Bose said on Tuesday.

“Such incidents are happening under the leadership, support and patronage of the state government. The ruling party, bureaucrats, and corrupt police personnel are behind these incidents,” Mr Bose said after meeting the victims in Siliguri. He is likely to submit a report on his findings to the central government.

Sources in the Raj Bhavan say protocol was not followed on Tuesday when the Governor arrived at the Bagdogra airport. The Superintendent of Police (SP) and District Magistrate (DM) were not there to receive him.

It is protocol for the SP and DM to be present when the Governor arrives.

The Governor, say sources, has informed about the incident to the Union Home Minister and at least two top officials of the state, including the Chief Secretary and Police Commissioner of Kolkata.

Sources say another IPS officer has also been named by the Governor.

The 73-year-old Governor has sought action against these officials and alleged that they have been instrumental in false cases filed against him.

The Governor and the Bengal Government have been on a collision course after a Raj Bhavan staffer filed a sexual assault complaint against the Governor earlier this year.

The police have carried out a probe even as the Governor has blocked the police from entering the Raj Bhavan.

The Governor has also filed a defamation case against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over alleged comments made by her.

During an administrative meeting in the state secretariat on June 27, Ms Banerjee said “women have informed me they are afraid to visit Raj Bhavan due to recent incidents reported there”.

Following the Chief Minister’s remarks, the Governor had said it was expected of public representatives not to create “erroneous and slanderous impressions”.

In response, Sanjay Basu, Mamata Banerjee’s lawyer, said, “We have come to know that a defamation suit has been filed against the CM and others over alleged statements by the CM that women feel unsafe at Raj Bhavan. Given recent incidents where women have approached law enforcement agencies with allegations concerning Raj Bhavan, it would be fair justification to state the agony of women, more so when the CM herself is a woman.”

“Though we haven’t received copies, the suit also seems to be an attempt to canvass other political issues by the Governor such as his refusal to let elected members take their oath before the Speaker in the garb of defamation. We will defend these allegations appropriately,” Mr Basu added.

Kolkata:

Maintaining that Rabindranath Tagore was an emotion, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Wednesday said that the Nobel laureate’s memory cannot be obliterated or ignored.

Mr Bose made the comment when asked by reporters about the row over the plaques installed at the Visva-Bharati, founded by Tagore, to mark the UNESCO world heritage tag.

The plaques installed at the central university’s Santiniketan campus in Birbhum district do not have Tagore’s name, but bear those of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is the chancellor, and Vice-chancellor Bidyut Chakrabarty.

“Tagore is a feeling, an emotion felt in the heart of Indians. There cannot be any instance where Gurudev’s memory is obliterated or ignored. Gurudev enjoys the highest respect in the minds of all Indians,” said Mr Bose, who is also the rector of the varsity, on the sidelines of a programme at the Raj Bhavan.

Santiniketan, where Tagore built Visva-Bharati over a century ago, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in September.

The omission of Tagore’s name led to a row between the state government and the varsity authorities following which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanded immediate replacement of the plaques.

The Trinamool Congress is holding a demonstration outside the varsity demanding removal of the plaques as they do not have Tagore’s name on them.

“Established in rural West Bengal in 1901 by the renowned poet and philosopher, Rabindranath Tagore, Santiniketan was a residential school and centre for art based on ancient Indian traditions and on a vision of the unity of humanity transcending religious and cultural boundaries,” according to a UNESCO website.

Tagore set up a university there in 1921. Ten years after his death, Visva-Bharati was declared a central university and an institution of national importance by an Act of Parliament in 1951.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kolkata/Santiniketan:

Even as a Trinamool Congress demonstration against the omission of Rabindranath Tagore’s name from plaques installed at Visva-Bharati to mark it being declared a global heritage site by UNESCO threatened to become a major political issue, it is learnt that West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, who is also the rector of the university, has intervened and demanded an explanation from the vice-chancellor.

TMC leaders and workers congregated near the central university since 11 am on Friday to demonstrate against the plaques which were earlier placed by the varsity authorities. The move had irked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who announced the agitation on Thursday.

Sources in Raj Bhavan said after the Governor demanded an explanation on the omission of Tagore’s name, VC Professor Bidyut Chakrabarty has clarified that the text to be engraved on the plaque had been submitted to the Department of Archaeology, Government of India, for approval.

Governor Bose is said to have indicated “that Gurudev Tagore is a symbol of the greatness and gravitas of Bengal, Bharat and humanity at large” and he should be honoured in the new plaques to be installed.

The scene at Santiniketan where TMC had announced an indefinite agitation remained peaceful with demonstrators singing Tagore songs and reciting poetry.

West Government Fisheries Minister and TMC leader Chandranath Sinha, who led the demonstration, told reporters, “We will stay here with our protest till the plaques are rectified. We are not withdrawing our demonstration.” 

He pointed out that local residents, alumni of the university and other concerned citizens had never sought any plaques, but since they have been put up with only the names of the chancellor, who is traditionally the prime minister of the country, and the vice-chancellor, they wanted recognition for Tagore, the founder of the university.

Earlier on Thursday, Ms Banerjee had told reporters, “It is only for Tagore that Santiniketan got the UNESCO tag and you (the central government) have removed his name from the plaques. We were silent because of Durga Puja celebrations.” 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kolkata:

Two confidential sealed letters, one sent to the state Secretariat and the other to the Centre, is the latest flashpoint between West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose and state education minister Bratya Basu after the latter accused Mr Bose of trying to “destroy” the higher education system in the state and running a “puppet regime” in universities.

Following Mr Basu’s strong allegations, Governor Bose had on Saturday warned of “midnight action”. 

“Wait for the stroke of midnight today. You will see what is the action,” Governor Bose said. 

As the clock approached midnight, two confidential and sealed letters were dispatched to their destinations, sparking a new twist in the ongoing feud between the two leaders. 

Governor Bose signed the letters shortly after a meeting with Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi at the Bengal Raj Bhavan. The meeting was not made public by either the state government or the Governor’s office. 

Soon after Governor Bose’s stern warning, Mr Basu took a veiled swipe at him, referring to him as the “new vampire in town” and warning people to “beware”.

“See till midnight, see the action BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE! New Vampire in the town! Citizens please watch yourselves. Eagerly waiting for the “Rakkhas Prahar” (monster prahar), according to Indian Mythology!,” Mr Basu posted on X, formerly on Twitter. 

“See till midnight, see the action”
BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE!
New Vampire in the town! Citizens please watch yourselves. Eagerly waiting for the “Rakkhas Prahar”, according to Indian Mythology!

— Bratya Basu (@basu_bratya) September 9, 2023

In the latest round of the ongoing feud between the West Bengal government and the Raj Bhavan over the appointment of interim vice-chancellors in universities, 

Mr Basu accused the governor of deliberately undermining the state’s higher education system. The minister also accused the governor, who is also the chancellor of state-run universities, of running a “puppet regime” in the universities and of using intimidation tactics to prevent registrars from meeting with the higher education department.

“The honourable governor wants to run a puppet regime by appointing people according to his whims to satisfy someone’s ego. He is making a constant effort to dismantle the higher education system,” Mr Basu said.

The governor recently appointed interim vice-chancellors for eight universities in Bengal, including Presidency University, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT), and the University of Burdwan, a move that was met with heavy criticism from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who accused the Mr Bose of interfering with the running of state-run universities.