Bengal Governor: I’ve submitted “critical comments on administration” after reading out Budget speech

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday said that he had made some “critical comments” on several aspects of the administration in the state and hoped that the government would discuss these matters with him.

Talking to the journalists in Kolkata, he said, “The government sent a draft (speech) to me. I received that address, had some critical comments to make. I made my critical comments in writing to the government and gave them on 6th (February). The critical comments were with respect to law and order situation, state universities, education, role of bureaucrats, utilization of public funds and several aspects. I am sure that the government will focus on my input, with an idea to interact with me whether I have been right or wrong.”
Dhankhar on Friday opened the Assembly Budget session by reading out the address prepared for him by the state government. There was speculation over the past few days that he may deviate from this speech.

Referring to his yesterday’s speech, Dhankhar said, “I would never ever cross the Lakshman Rekha (boundary) defined for me by the Indian Constitution,” which says that a Governor has to go by the speech drafted by the state.

Dhankhar said that he read the speech because he did what he thought to be right and not under instructions from any of the political parties. “I will take no instructions from any quarters whatsoever except the Indian Constitution,” he said.