Kolkata: Days after hinting that he could leave out or make additions in his address to the state assembly approved by Mamata Banerjee cabinet, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday stuck to convention, and read the full speech that contained critical references to the Citizenship Amendment Act, the National Population Register and the National Register of Citizens.
The Governor later said that he delivered the address in the high traditions of the Constitution.
“I do hope all will pay due obeisance to the Constitution. This is the only way to serve the people and enhance democratic values. I urge those in authority to desist from methodology not sanctified by constitution,” Dhankhar said in a tweet.
On Wednesday, Dhankhar had said: “A draft of the address has been made available to me after approval of the state cabinet. That is under my consideration. If I leave one issue, or would like to make an addition, I will do it in a formal manner.”
However, on Thursday, the state government turned down the Governor’s suggestions on replacements and additions of paragraphs to the text of the speech passed by the cabinet.
While there was much speculation and interest regarding the possible turn of events in the Assembly, as to whether Dhankhar would read the cabinet approved address or stray from it by following the lead of his Kerala counterpart Arif Muhammad Khan, in the end it turned out to be a tame and routine affair.
Dhankhar not only read the 25-page address cleared by the cabinet, but there was also an atmosphere of cordiality as he exchanged pleasantries with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and later had tea and chatted with her in the office of Speaker Biman Banerjee.
The address “mourned the tragic end of those brave sons of India who lost their lives during protest against the CAA in different parts of the country”, and highlighted the state government’s strong opposition against “division of people in the name of steps like NPR or NRC or CAA”.
He also mentioned the resolutions passed by the state Assembly against NRC on September 6 last year and against CAA on January 27.
“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 of the country,” the speech read, calling for a “deep introspection and re-dedication to the guiding principles enshrined in our Constitution”.
The ruling Trinamool Congress legislators had come prepared to raise a ruckus in case Dhankhar deviated from the cabinet-approved text, wearing posters with the preamble of the constitution and headbands opposing CAA, NPR and NRC.
But with the Governor not making any additions or omissions, there was no need of any disruption.
Later in the evening Dhankhar summoned the State’s Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha, where the discussion was likely on the State Budget scheduled on February 10.
However, the opposition alleged a “got up game” between the Trinamool government and the Modi government at the Centre, claiming the speech did not contain anything “critical of the centre”.
“It is a got up game between the state government and the central dispensation of Narendra Modi,” said Leader of Opposition Abdul Mannan of the Congress.
