New Delhi:

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose reached Delhi on Monday night amid speculations that he may meet President Droupadi Murmu and senior leaders.

There have been massive protests in West Bengal and a strike by doctors across the country in the wake of the rape-murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata and allegations of a botched probe and cover-up.  

The governor on Thursday visited the hospital and spoke to the agitating junior doctors, assuring them of justice.

Governor Bose is likely to meet President Murmu in Delhi on Tuesday.

Speaking during a Rakhi celebration programme at Raj Bhavan in Kolkata earlier in the day, where several women doctors and others tied rakhis around his wrists, Mr Bose pledged to support their efforts until the goal of a safer environment for women is achieved.

“In West Bengal, democracy is degenerating. This cannot go on,” Mr Bose said. He urged collective action to safeguard women, saying, “Today, we have to take a pledge to protect our daughters, sisters.”

Mr Bose emphasised the need for societal change, stating, “Our society should become a place where women feel happy and secure. We have failed in our mission to our sisters. This is the minimum a civilised society should do.” “My responsibility as a governor is to serve the people. I know the goal is far and the road is long, but the march is on. We will certainly reach our destination. I am with you, I am for you,” Governor Bose said.

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

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. 

Kolkata:

Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose said Thursday “positive action… which will be exemplary for others” will be taken against those who vandalised the RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata late last night.

Parts of the hospital were trashed – by an as yet unidentified mob – during protests against the rape and murder of a junior doctor, on campus, last week. Mr Bose this afternoon met doctors from various state-run institutions who sought his intervention over the violence.

The doctors, mostly women, told him they were “insecure” following the killing and violence. They also told the Governor they had been left “traumatised and terrorised”, to which Mr Bose vowed assistance.

“I am with you. We will fight it out and not allow these ghastly things. We will take positive action which will be exemplary for others,” the Governor told the group of around 20 doctors.

#WATCH | While interacting with protesting doctors & students at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose says, “You will get justice. I have come here to listen to you personally. We will fight it out and we will win. We are with you. I… pic.twitter.com/XHmicDWY8o

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2024

The delegation also told the Governor the mob wanted to destroy evidence related to the killing of the 31-year-old doctor, whose body was found early on August 10. The autopsy had revealed horrific injuries to her genitals, hands, and legs, and shards of glass were found in one eye.

READ | “Spectacles Shattered, Glass In Eyes”: Autopsy Of Raped Doctor

The killing prompted massive protests by doctors in Bengal and across the country, culminating in a ‘reclaim the night’ movement that began yesterday at 11.55 pm. Tens of thousands of protesters, mostly women, gathered at public spaces in Kolkata, Delhi, and other cities, to demand safety for women.

However, the protests turned violent in the Bengal capital after a mob went on the rampage at the RG Kar Hospital. It is unclear who they were. Visuals showed stones being pelted inside the campus and several injured policemen. Officials said they tried to block the mob from entering but they could not.

READ | Vandalism At Kolkata Hospital Where Doctor Was Raped, Tear Gas Fired

The police then had to use tear gas and lathi charges to control the violence. The police, though, have said that contrary to reports being spread on social media, the vandals did not damage the crime scene.

READ | Mob Vandalised Doctor Rape Murder Case Crime Scene? Cops Respond

Responding to reports the fourth-floor room in which the doctor’s body was found had been trashed, the cops said on X (formerly Twitter), “Crime scene has not been touched. Don’t spread unverified news…” and warned of legal action against those spreading rumours.

Kolkata Police chief Vineet Goyal, who was on the ground during the mob attack at the hospital, was more forceful, and accused the media of running a “malicious campaign”.

“What happened here is due to a wrong and motivated media campaign. Because of a malicious media campaign, Kolkata Police lost the trust of the people. There is so much pressure from the media.”

The senior cop also denied claims his officers had mishandled the investigation.

The police have arrested nine people so far in connection with the violence.

On Wednesday Mr Bose – who has had frequent public run-ins with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s government since his appointment – told reporters of the “alleged connivance of the police”.

READ | “Women Attacked, Disrobed, On Bengal’s Streets”: Governor Turns The Screw

The Calcutta High Court, which has handed the investigation over to the CBI, this week heard a petition by the doctor’s parents, who alleged negligence by hospital authorities and the cops.

The police, though, have firmly dismissed any such claim and stressed that their handling of the case, including communications with the parents, and their investigation into the killing adhered to protocols. In a post on X yesterday the cops also hit back at rumours they had initially filed a case of ‘suicide’ and that they had rushed to cremate the doctor’s body.

Kolkata:

After meeting the victims of the post-poll violence, West Bengal Governor Ananda Bose said on Tuesday that violence is growing in the state and he is depressed to know that in some cases, violence is being supported or initiated by the government.

In an interview with ANI, reacting to the post-poll violence, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose said, “I am getting a series of complaints from the victims of violence. This is not the first time. Last occasion when the victims of post-poll violence came to meet me as governor, they were prevented by the police. This was questioned by the Calcutta High Court. The high court said in very unequivocal terms that anyone who wants to meet the governor with his prior permission should not be prevented by the police. But this time also I was told the police did that. This is very disturbing. Violence is growing in this state. I am depressed that in some cases violence is supported or initiated by the government.”

Earlier on June 29, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul on Saturday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged incident of assault on a minority woman in Cooch Behar.

The BJP MLA reached Bagdogra airport to meet the post-poll violence victim.

Meanwhile, on June 28, BJP MP and member of the party’s fact-finding team formed to investigate post-poll violence in West Bengal, Ravi Shankar Prasad, alleged on Friday that ‘Taliban Raj’ has been established in West Bengal.He also alleged that there is a complete violation of women’s rights in West Bengal and the police are not doing anything.

“‘Taliban Raj’ has been established in West Bengal…The police are not doing anything…Even the media is not allowed to enter villages…The leaders of the opposition alliance are not saying anything about the atrocity…There is complete violation of women’s rights in West Bengal,” Mr Prasad said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fact-finding committee was formed to investigate post-poll violence in West Bengal after multiple reports of violence against BJP workers and vandalism of their offices emerged following the declaration of the 2024 Lok Sabha election results.

Incidents of post-poll violence poured in from several pockets of West Bengal where BJP workers were allegedly beaten and their offices were vandalized, after the declaration of Lok Sabha 2024 results.

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

Kolkata:

Around 100 voters who were allegedly not allowed to vote by Trinamool Congress workers in the recent elections in West Bengal called on Governor CV Ananda Bose and sought his intervention on the matter.

Led by Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Suvendu Adhikari, the 100 people alleged that the ruling Trinamool Congress workers did not allow them to exercise their voting rights during the by-elections and also during the Lok Sabha polls.

Mr Bose personally interacted with them and assured them of looking into the matter.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Mr Bose at the Raj Bhavan, the BJP leader said that he would seek an appointment with President Draupadi Murmu and take these voters to her so that they can narrate about the “atrocities they have been going through”.

“The President is the Constitutional head of the country and should know what is going on in West Bengal. This cannot be allowed to continue. I will seek an appointment with her and take five out of these people to meet her,” he said.

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

Kolkata:

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Sunday rejected the allegation that eight Bills passed by the state assembly is pending with the Raj Bhavan.

Out of the eight Bills, six were reserved for the consideration of President Draupadi Murmu, while another is subjudice, Mr Bose said.

For the eighth Bill, no representative of the state government turned up at the Raj Bhavan despite being called as some clarifications were needed, he said.

“My attention has been drawn to a news item of today that the Bengal government has moved the Supreme Court against the Governor over eight pending Bills. This is incorrect as not a single Bill is pending with the Raj Bhavan,” Mr Bose told PTI from Kerala.

On Friday, the Mamata Banerjee government moved the Supreme Court against Mr Bose for allegedly sitting on the eight Bills without giving any reason for not signing them.

“The action taken/ proposed to be taken by the government in the matter may be reported as is mandated in Article 167 of the Constitution of India,” he added..

Article 167 defines the duties of a chief minister towards the governor.

“It is not clear why the government thinks of moving the court without verifying facts,” Mr Bose said.

According to a Raj Bhavan official, six amendment Bills of 2022, all related to various universities of the state, were reserved for consideration of the President of India.

The West Bengal University Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023 relating to the selection of vice-chancellors is sub judice, the official said.

“For the West Bengal Town and Country (Planning & Development) (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the state govt was asked to send the principal Secretary to the Raj Bhavan as some important clarifications were needed. The government has not yet responded to it,” the official said. 

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

Kolkata:

The Union Home Ministry has initiated disciplinary action against Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal and a DCP for allegedly maligning the office of the West Bengal Governor by promoting and spreading canards, a central government official said.

The Union ministry action came after Governor CV Ananda Bose submitted a report to it regarding Vineet Goyal and Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner (DCP) Central Indira Mukherjee, alleging that they were “functioning in a manner which is completely unbecoming of a public servant”, he said.

CV Ananda Bose’s report, submitted to the Home Minister in late June, highlighted issues such as Kolkata Police officers preventing victims of post-poll violence from meeting the Governor despite his permission.

“The Union Home Ministry has initiated disciplinary action against the IPS officers based on a detailed report by Mr Bose,” the official told PTI. Copies of the letter were sent to the state government on July 4.

The Governor also accused other police officers, posted at the Raj Bhavan, of promoting and encouraging concocted allegations by a woman employee during April-May 2024, the official added.

“These IPS officers through their acts have not only tarnished the office of the Governor but also functioned in a manner which is completely unbecoming of a public servant. They have conveniently chosen to ignore the Conduct Rules,” he added.

In his report, CV Ananda Bose mentioned Kolkata Police’s alleged new practice of issuing identity cards to Raj Bhavan staff and frisking them upon entry and exit, despite objections from the Governor’s office.

“Preventing a delegation of victims of violence from various parts of West Bengal, accompanied by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, from meeting Mr Bose and subsequently detaining them is an affront to the Constitutional authority of the Governor,” the official said.

The official noted that it was troubling that the victims had to move court to meet the Governor.

Referring to the Kolkata Police’s “total silence” on CV Ananda Bose’s June 13 directive to remove the police contingent from Raj Bhavan, the official said, “it was seen as defying orders”.

“Since mid-June, Kolkata Police posted at Raj Bhavan unilaterally set up a ‘security mechanism’ without the Governor’s knowledge and consent, effectively placing the entire establishment under ‘arrest’ and ‘watch’,” he said.

CV Ananda Bose’s report also mentioned that a preliminary internal inquiry found allegations of sexual molestation against him by a former Raj Bhavan employee to be part of a “pre-written script.” “Kolkata Police Commissioner and Indira Mukherjee formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) with unusual speed and continued media briefings to create a false impression that the Governor could face criminal proceedings,” the report said.

The report also alleged that Vineet Goyal and Mukherjee were instrumental in promoting another ‘complaint’ from January 2023.

“It was reported that Kolkata Police registered a ‘zero FIR’ at a local police station and transferred the case to New Delhi. On June 17, 2024, the alleged complainant publicly said she had nothing against the Governor and wanted to withdraw it. However, Kolkata Police did not allow her to do so,” the official said.

CV Ananda Bose had written to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee requesting action against Vineet Goyal and Indira Mukherjee, but no steps were taken, nor was there any communication from her office.

CV Ananda Bose also referred to his recent visit to Siliguri to meet victims of Chopra violence, questioning the conduct of some officials in the state.

“Their conduct is not per the All India Services rules and protocol manuals. The state government was duly informed. However, in flagrant violation of protocol, the Darjeeling DM and Siliguri Police Commissioner did not call on the Governor. Unfortunately, this was not a one-off incident. There have been several similar cases of such lapses in the past,” he said.

When contacted, Vineet Goyal said he had no information about the Union Home Ministry’s action.

“I have no information about this. If anything has come, it must have gone to the state government,” Vineet Goyal told PTI.

Indira Mukherjee echoed Vineet Goyal’s statement, saying she had not received any information about the matter.

Calls to state Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty went unanswered.

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

Kolkata:

Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has hit out at the ruling Trinamool Congress after two of its leaders – Sayantika Banerjee and Reyat Hossain Sarkar – took oath as MLAs on Friday.

Ms Banerjee and Mr Sarkar won bypolls from the Baranagar and Bhagwangola constituencies, the results of which were declared on June 5. Their oaths, though, had been pending since and became the focus of a bitter and prolonged stand-off between the Trinamool and the Governor’s office.

Their oaths were eventually administered this evening by Speaker Biman Banerjee. After the ceremony was over, Trinamool legislators raised the ‘Jai Bangla‘ slogan in the House.

However, Mr Bose then declared that the Speaker had “defied Constitutional prescription” by administering their oaths despite the Governor’s office appointing his deputy, Ashish Banerjee.

However, Mr Banerjee declined to do so, pointing out the Speaker had precedence.

Mr Bose has said a report will be sent to President Droupadi Murmu “about the Constitutional impropriety of the Speaker in administering the oath to the two newly elected MLAs”.

“This Constitutional transgression has been done in spite of the Governor appointing the Deputy Speaker as the person before whom the two newly elected MLAs shall take their oaths.”

West Bengal Governor reacts to MLAs swearing-in this afternoon at the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. https://t.co/zVNGi0D0Vvpic.twitter.com/VpntVwAITa

— Saurabh Gupta(Micky) (@MickyGupta84) July 5, 2024

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) Mr Bose referred to a provision in the Constitution that says an MLA “shall, before taking his seat. Make and subscribe before the Governor, or some person appointed in that behalf by him, an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose”.

He also dismissed the Speaker’s reference to other rules. “Can any rule be above the Constitution?”

Last week Ms Banerjee and Mr Sarkar had launched a sit-in protest outside the Assembly building after the Governor declined to either administer the oath or delegate the responsibility.

But earlier today he issued the communique authorising the Deputy Speaker to do so.

However, by then the Speaker had summoned a special session of the Assembly, declaring that the House could not, and would not, depend solely on the Governor’s nod to function. The Speaker, Mr Banerjee, earlier also sought the President’s help and accused the Governor of egoistic behaviour.

The stand-off was triggered by the Governor inviting the two MLAs to take oath at his residence.

READ | 2 Newly-Elected Trinamool MLAs Skip Governor’s Oath Invitation

The Speaker, and the Trinamool, insisted Mr Bose ought to come to the Assembly.

“We respect him… and the Constitution… but he is not giving us respect. He should come to the Assembly and conduct the oath-taking… or give this authority to the Speaker. We are sitting here with the Constitution… We are elected, unlike a nominated position like you…” Mr Banerjee said.

The oath ceremony, meanwhile, has also been criticised by the opposition BJP, which claimed it had not been told of the special session. “I had no information… did not get any notice. In every state, a courtesy call is given to the LoP but here there was no interaction…” Suvendu Adhikari said.

Mr Adhikari, a former aide of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who jumped to the BJP weeks before the Assembly election, is the Leader of the Opposition.

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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:

A defamation suit filed by West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to be taken up for hearing before the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday.

Mr Bose filed a defamation case against Ms Banerjee on June 28, a day after she claimed that women complained to her saying that they were afraid to visit the Raj Bhavan because of the activities there.

The defamation suit filed by Mr Bose against Ms Banerjee is listed for hearing on Wednesday before the bench of Justice Krishna Rao, according to the high court’s website.

Following Ms Banerjee’s remarks, the governor had said that it was expected of public representatives not to create “erroneous and slanderous impressions.” 

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

On May 2, a contractual woman employee of Raj Bhavan had made an allegation of molestation against Bose, following which the Kolkata Police started an enquiry.

Under Article 361 of the Constitution, no criminal proceedings can be instituted against a governor during his/her term in office.

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