News Analysis India

Tag: Jagdeep Dhankhar

  • Governor says concerned about political violence ahead of Bengal polls

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Expressing anguish over incidents of violence in the run-up to the West Bengal Assembly elections, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday asked the police and administration to remain politically neutral.

    “Anguished and concerned at violence @MamataOfficial in Election process. Democracy has no meaning without fair elections,” he said on Twitter.

    Free, fair and peaceful elections are constitutional obligations of the police and administration, Dhankhar said.

    The governor has been vocal about instances of strife among political parties that have been reported from various districts of the state ahead of the eight-phase polls beginning March 27.

    “All, including OCs & ICs at police stations, must be politically neutral. Transgression & violations would lead to punitive actions,” Dhankhar added.

  • West Bengal Governor calls upon state officials to exhibit ‘political neutrality’

    By ANI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday called upon the state officials to adhere to rule of law and exhibit ‘political neutrality’ ahead of the Assembly elections.

    “Call upon the bureaucracy at the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee government, West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police to adhere to rule of law and exhibit ‘political neutrality’ so that our democracy flourishes. All must work to ensure peaceful environment that is quintessential for fair elections that is the basis of democracy,” tweeted the Governor’s office.

    Elections in West Bengal will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29.

    The tenure of the 16th Legislative Assembly of West Bengal will end on May 30 this year. A total of 7,34,07,832 voters will choose their representative for the 17th Legislative Assembly of West Bengal. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.

  • Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar gets first jab of COVID vaccine

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and his wife Sudesh Dhankhar received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday morning, officials of the Health Department said.

    The governor and the first lady were administered the COVID-19 vaccine at Command Hospital in Alipore, they said.

    Governor WB Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar and Smt Sudesh Dhankhar received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine today at 11.30 am at COMMAND HOSPITAL @easterncomdGovernor thanked all doctors, nurses, health workers abd administrators at Command Hospital who gave vaccination today. pic.twitter.com/CdTswUwBhZ
    — Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) March 11, 2021

    “The governor and his wife were administered the COVID-19 vaccine around 11.30 am at Command Hospital. Both are absolutely fine,” a senior health official said.

    Dhankhar thanked the doctors, nurses and health workers at Command Hospital after being inoculated.

    Till Wednesday, 19.87 lakh people have been inoculated in West Bengal.

  • People of Bengal living in fear, claims Governor Dhankhar

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday claimed that fear has pervaded the minds of the people of the state and they are even afraid to talk about it openly.

    Freedom means freedom from fear, Dhankhar said adding that democracy and rule of law also signify freedom from fear.

    “We are at the moment not free from that fear. People are so much in fear that they can’t even talk about it,” he said during a programme here.

    The governor said that the state of West Bengal, by its culture and ethos, has no place for fear in the minds of its people.

    Assembly elections in the Trinamool Congress-ruled West Bengal are due in April-May.

    Dhankhar, who is at loggerheads with the Mamata Banerjee government since he took over as governor in July 2019, has often asked all stakeholders to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections in the state.

  • Authorised CM to perform duties related to finacial statement presentation: Bengal Governor

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Thursday that he has authorised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to perform all duties in the Assembly related to the presentation of the annual financial statement for 2021-22 and the motion for vote on account.

    Dhankhar tweeted that the authorisation was given following communication with state finance minister Amit Mitra and speaker of the Assembly, Biman Banerjee.

    “Governor of West Bengal has authorized Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee to perform in the Assembly all duties relating to presentation of Annual Financial Statement of the Government of West Bengal for the year 2021-2022 and Motion for Vote on Account & all related aspects,” he tweeted.

    A vote on account, which entails an incumbent government to seek a sanction for administrative expenditure, will be presented before the House on Friday as Assembly elections are due to be held in the state in April-May.

  • Politically neutral administration needed for holding fair polls: Bengal governor Dhankhar

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday said that the police and the administration must be politically neutral for holding free and fair assembly elections in the state.

    The officials who are engaged in political activities will have to face the consequences, Dhankhar said in a Twitter post, tagging Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the state police and the Home Department.

    “Fairness of elections @MamataOfficial is imperative being soul of democracy. For this police @WBPolice & administration @HomeBengal must be ‘politically neutral’ & give up its entrenched political mindset & stance,” he tweeted.

    Assembly polls are due in the state in April-May this year.

    “Alarming inputs of police political activity” are worrisome and the law will not spare those engaged in such transgressions, Dhankhar said without elaborating.

    “Exemplary consequences will emanate. Democratic process cannot be allowed to be so sullied by those who act as ‘law unto themselves’,” the governor tweeted.

    Dhankhar has on a number of occasions alleged that a section of the police and government officials are acting like political workers and asked them to refrain from doing so.

  • Dhankhar raises concern over Mamata’s reference to relations with non-Bengali bureaucrats

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday raised concern over Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s reference to her relations with non-Bengali bureaucrats in a bid to woo Hindi-speaking voters ahead of the assembly elections due in April-May.

    Banerjee, while interacting with Hindi-speakers at the TMC headquarters on Thursday, had said that many of her officers like DGP Virendra, former chief secretary Rajiva Sinha and former Kolkata Police commissioner Rajeev Kumar are from other states and they share excellent relations with her.

    Reiterating that the political neutrality of bureaucrats has been compromised, the governor asserted that the official positioning of the state government cannot be on considerations of regionalism.

    “Why in name of officials! Why drag administration @HomeBengal & police @WBPolice in this! Surely official positioning @MamataOfficial cannot be on such considerations of regionalism or otherwise. Time to set high standards as already there was abysmal low in earlier elections,” Dhankhar tweeted.

    During the interaction, Banerjee had accused the BJP of creating a Bengali-non-Bengali divide and urged the Hindi- speaking voters to exercise their franchise in favour of the ruling party in the state.

    Sharing a video of Banerjee’s reference to the officials, Dhankhar tweeted: “Deeply concerned and disturbed at video @MamataOfficial-attention drawn by political & otherwise worried quarters.

    Alarming scenario! ‘POLITICAL NEUTRALITY’ @WBPolice @HomeBengal being compromised & political commitment promoted.

    This aberration augurs ill for fair election.

  • West Bengal Governor asks CM Mamata Banerjee to empower voters, eliminate atmosphere of fear

    By ANI
    KOLKATA: On the 11th National Voters’ Day, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday asked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to empower and inform voters, ensure their safety and eliminate an atmosphere of fear.

    “Make all efforts #NationalVotersDay to make Voters Empowered, Vigilant, Safe and Informed @MamataOfficial. Atmosphere of fear for voter-the supreme stakeholder, must be overcome,” Dhankhar tweeted on Monday.

    Make all efforts #NationalVotersDay to make Voters Empowered, Vigilant, Safe and Informed @MamataOfficialAtmosphere of fear for Voter-the supreme stake holder, must be overcome.Absence of political neutrality @WBPolice @HomeBengal would be culpable leading to consequences
    — Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) January 25, 2021

    Further warning the state government machinery including the police, against political bias, Dhankhar in his tweet said, “Absence of political neutrality @WBPolice @HomeBengal would be culpable leading to consequences.”

    This comes as West Bengal is slated to go to polls this year for 294 assembly seats.

    The West Bengal Governor had yesterday urged people to pledge for free and fair elections in the state ahead of Republic Day. He has emphasised that the state can prosper only when democracy is allowed to function in a free and fair manner.

    “Our State can flourish only when Democracy blossoms. For this free and fair election @MamataOfficial administration @HomeBengal and police @WBPolice have to be “politically neutral”. Let’s pledge on this Republic Day to achieve in State free & fair elections shun of violence”, tweeted Dhankhar yesterday asking Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal Government and police to be politically unbiased.

    Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea seeking to ensure free and fair Assembly elections in West Bengal and also to provide protection to the opposition leaders in the state.

    A Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan dismissed the petition and granted liberty to the petitioner to approach other remedies available in law.

    The theme for this year’s National Voters’ Day celebrations is ‘Making Our Voters Empowered, Vigilant, Safe and Informed’. It envisages active and participative voters during elections. It also focuses on EC’s commitment towards conducting elections safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The National Voters’ Day has been celebrated on January 25 every year since 2011, all across the country to mark the foundation day of the Election Commission of India in January 25, 1950. 

  • Disagreeing with every move of Centre goes against spirit of federalism: Dhankhar lashes out at Mamata government

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Supporting the Centre’s decision to celebrate Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary as ‘Parakram Diwas’, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday said that disagreeing with every move of the Union government goes against the spirit of federalism.

    Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, whose government celebrated the day as ‘Deshnayak Diwas’, slammed the Centre for its decision to observe January 23 as ‘Parakram Diwas’ and said the Narendra Modi government did not consult with her before announcing it.

    “Parakram signifies valour which sums up the spirit of the Indian National Army founded by Bose and his tireless effort to unite Indians.

    ALSO READ | Dignity cannot be taught: Derek O’Brien on ‘Jai Shree Ram’ slogan at Netaji event

    “I think the word ‘Parakram Diwas’ has been arrived at after deliberations and it aptly sums up his valour to unite Indians against the British rule,” Dhankhar told reporters during a programme on the occasion at Raj Bhavan.

    Asked about the ruling TMC’s opposition to the observance of the day as ‘Parakram Diwas’, the governor said, “It does not augur well to disagree with each move of the Centre. This goes against the spirit of federalism.”

    Dhankhar, however, did not comment on the observance of the day as ‘Deshnayak Diwas’ by the state government.

  • Bengal Governor donates Rs 5,00,001 for construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and his wife on Thursday donated Rs 5,00,001 for construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

    A Raj Bhavan statement said a signed cheque was handed over to a team of the VHP and RSS, adding, the donation was made in their personal capacity.

    All India Working President of VHP Alok Kumar flew from Delhi to Kolkata this morning and called on the governor, leading a seven-member delegation.

    The donation was made in the name of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, which has been mandated to collect funds for the temple, Dhankhar said in the statement.

    He also termed the construction of the Ram Mandir as an epochal development.

    “The fact that it is in pursuance to the unanimous verdict of the highest court of the largest democracy in the world, is a tribute to richness and resilience of our age old ethos and civilisation.

    The intent and spirit of donation, rather than the amount, is all important,” the statement said.