West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose agreed to meet a delegation of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders at the Gubernatorial Mansion in Darjeeling at 5.30 PM on Saturday, following a mail received from TMC leader Derek O’Brien, news agency PTI reported citing sources from Raj Bhavan who confirmed the news.
According to the report, this decision by the governor comes in the aftermath of a TMC sit-in held outside Kolkata's Raj Bhavan, led by the party's National General Secretary, Abhishek Banerjee. The sit-in aimed to demand the release of West Bengal's Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) dues by the Central government and sought an audience with Governor Bose.
A letter from the governor's deputy secretary addressed to Derek O’Brien stated, "With reference to your mail of October 6, I AM directed to inform you that the Governor would be pleased to meet you and other members of the delegation at 05.30 pm at Raj Bhavan, Darjeeling, on October 7. You are requested to kindly send a list of the delegation along with their names who would be meeting the governor," as reported by PTI.
Earlier on the same day, Derek O’Brien had sent a mail to the governor, seeking a meeting with him. O’Brien also requested that the date and time be convenient for the governor, considering the substantial distance between Kolkata and Darjeeling, which amounts to approximately 700 kilometers.
According to O’Brien, the delegation comprises 15 members, including representatives from disadvantaged families, Members of Parliament from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and ministers from the West Bengal government, the report said.
Abhishek Banerjee initiated the sit-in protest outside Raj Bhavan on Thursday, with thousands of party members and leaders joining the demonstration. The protest aimed to highlight the alleged withholding of MGNREGA funds owed to the state by the Central government.
Banerjee continued his presence at the protest site throughout the night, holding meetings with party workers and supporters. He declared his determination not to leave the site until Governor CV Ananda Bose meets the delegation and addresses their concerns.
However, the TMC MP noted that slogans and the use of loudspeakers by protesters will be restricted to the hours between 11 a.m. and 9 PM.
In a social media post, Banerjee stated, "Our battle against zamindars rages on, fiercer than ever. Today on Day 2, we picked up right where we left off, determined to continue our dharna until the governor agrees to meet our delegation. The era of evading difficult questions is over. It's time to face us and provide answers." He firmly asserted that the party will remain steadfast at the protest site until their demands are met.
Thousands of TMC party members from various parts of the state arrived at the protest site on Friday to express their solidarity. Several senior TMC leaders also participated and demanded the immediate release of dues owed to the state by the Central government.
Bengal Minister of State for Finance, Chandrima Bhattacharya, affirmed, "Our fight for justice and for the poor will continue until the dues are released and the governor comes to meet us," according to the report.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari criticised the sit-in, stating, "The security of the governor is being jeopardized for cheap political drama." Adhikari, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Bengal Assembly, accused the ruling TMC party of trying to dismantle the constitutional authority in the state.
This sit-in comes after a two-day demonstration by the TMC in New Delhi regarding the alleged delayed payment of MGNREGA dues and housing schemes for impoverished families. West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee had staged a two-day sit-in protest in March against the Central government's alleged withholding of funds for MGNREGA and other welfare schemes.