"West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose instructs CM Mamata Banerjee to conduct an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss burning issues in Bengal. Governor refers public complaints against Kolkata Police Commissioner for the immediate decision of Govt," ANI quoted the Raj Bhavan as saying.
The remark comes amid the ongoing protests across the state over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata last month.
Bose said that the state government should decide on the people's demand to replace Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal.
Bose said that the TMC-led Bengal government cannot evade responsibility and remain silent on the disturbing developments in the state, PTI quoted sources as saying.
According to the governor, the state should function within the Constitution and the rule of law. "The ostrich-like attitude will not pay and the state must address the public demand to remove the Police Commissioner of Kolkata," the source reportedly said.
The directive from the Governor's Office is the latest disagreement betwee the Raj Bhavan and the Mamata Banerjee government over the handling of the RG Kar issue.
Governor's Refusal Over Aparajita Bill
Earlier on Thursday, Governor Ananda Bose refused to sign the Aparajita Women and Child (West Bengal Criminal Law Amendment) Bill, 2024 on Thursday citing lack of technical report. The anti-rape Bill was unanimously passed by the government and the Opposition.
The Governor also claimed that the Aparajita Bill appeared to be a copy-paste of similar Bills passed by Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Moreover, a statement issued by the Raj Bhavan on September 5 said that Governor Anand Bose is not happy with the Mamata government's conduct.
Governor Bose Slams Kolkata Police
The Governor has come down harshly on the Kolkata Police saying, "A portion of police is criminalised, a portion is corrupt, a portion is politicised. This does not speak well for the police force anywhere.
Without mincing words in criticising the state administration for handling the situation, Bose stated that the state government is "going from wrong to wrong," emphasising that the public’s “lack of trust” in the system has led to the recent massive protests.
"What I see in West Bengal today, especially in administration, is going from wrong to wrong. They should realise that two wrongs, even if they are mutually contradictory, will not constitute one right. (The) government has to act and has to take people into confidence. Punishment should be given," he said.
The body of an on-duty trainee doctor, who was raped and murdered, was found in the seminar room of state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, triggering nationwide outrage.
