Guv interfering in state administration, says Mamataas anti-corruption cell comes up in Raj Bhavan

Governor CV Ananda Bose established an anti-corruption cell at Raj Bhavan, but Chief Minister Banerjee criticized it as meddling with state administration. 

PTI, 02 AUG 2023: Against the backdrop of West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose setting up an anti-corruption cell at Raj Bhavan, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday lashed out,  terming this as an attempt to interfere in the functioning of the state's administration. 

    

She also alleged that Bose is "wearing a mask" and "working under instructions of the BJP".

    

"I have heard that the Governor is setting up an anti-corruption cell. This is not the job of the Raj Bhavan. We respect the Governor. He is setting up cells on his own. He is unnecessarily interfering with the state's rights," Banerjee said. 

    

Earlier in the day, Bose inaugurated an ‘anti-corruption cell’ at Raj Bhavan, stating that this initiative would help people forward their complaints to the competent authorities.

    

"I can see that he (Bose) is wearing a mask and working under the instructions of the BJP," 

    

Banerjee said that the Governor's responsibilities have been specified in the Constitution.

    

The chief minister alleged that the Governor had appointed a person from his home state Kerala as vice chancellor of a university in Bengal, who had no experience in the field of education.

Earlier in the day, Governor C V Ananda Bose inaugurated an "anti-corruption cell' at the Raj Bhavan here, amidst protests by the ruling TMC of this being an "intrusion" into day-to-day administration which was the  responsibility  of  the state government. Bose, who said that such an initiative would help common people forward their complaints to competent authorities, dismissed the TMC's allegation, and said the cell would not "infringe on others' turf".

"Here at the anti-corruption cell, we are trying to give voice to the voiceless. In the days  of violence, Raj Bhavan is trying to be a friend of the unfriended poor. When the 'Peace  Room'  was set up, there were apprehensions.

What did the 'Peace Room' achieve? We will not try to infringe on the turf of others. There is something called 'Lakshman Rekha'. We will certainly try to confine ourselves within the Lakshman Rekha," Bose said. 

The Governor had opened a 'Peace Room' at the Raj Bhavan to address violence-related complaints from people in districts during the recently held panchayat elections.

"Do not give money to anyone. We will not allow that. If someone wants money, take his picture and send it to me. This was said in Cooch Behar by  my constitutional colleague CM of West Bengal. This is precisely what we are trying to implement. That is what we are going to do," the Governor said, referring to the Chief Minister's recent remarks at a rally. 

Anyone who comes across corruption can report it to the anti-corruption cell, Bose said. "We will take it up with the competent authorities," the Governor added.