West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal, demanding the immediate arrest of those involved in the attack on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Khagen Murmu and MLA Sankar Ghosh. The Governor warned that failure to comply would compel him to explore "other options available under the Constitution of India".
The ultimatum follows an incident on Monday where Murmu, the MP from Maldaha Uttar, and Ghosh, the Siliguri MLA, were injured after being attacked by a mob during a visit to flood and landslide-hit Nagrakata in the Jalpaiguri district. The incident has sparked a sharp reaction from the BJP, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemning the attack as "outright appalling".
Governor Bose visited the injured BJP leaders at a hospital in Siliguri on Tuesday, before issuing the ultimatum. Speaking to India Today TV, the Governor stated, "If the accused are not arrested within 24 hours, I will have to go according to the Constitution and take further steps". He expressed deep concern over the law and order situation in the state, describing "anarchical happenings" and "Gundaraj" in certain areas. He emphasized that the government's responsibility is to guarantee the constitutional right to life for all citizens, which he believes is not being upheld in Bengal.
The BJP has launched a scathing attack on the West Bengal government, accusing it of failing to maintain law and order. The party has also demanded a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the attack, alleging that Trinamool Congress (TMC) activists were involved.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the injured MP in the hospital. However, tensions remain high, with Banerjee accusing Prime Minister Modi of politicizing the issue and making unverified allegations. She defended her government by explaining why the Durga Puja carnival in Kolkata could not be cancelled despite the devastation caused by landslides in north Bengal.
The Governor's ultimatum has added another layer of complexity to the already strained relationship between the state government and the Governor's office. The coming hours will be crucial as the state government decides how to respond to the Governor's demands and address the concerns raised about the deteriorating law and order situation.
