Transfer of 3 IPS officers: Mamata Banerjee says she won’t be cowed down, won’t allow Centre to “control state machinery”

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday reacted sharply on the Centre’s directive transferring three IPS officers from the state and asking them to join their respective positions under Central government deputation.

Banerjee on Thursday took to Twitter to say she was not going to be cowed down in front of “expansionist and undemocratic forces”. She added that she wouldn’t “allow this brazen attempt by the Centre to control the state machinery by proxy”. The Centre had last week transferred three IPS officers from Bengal – Rajiv Mishra (ADG-South Bengal), Praveen Tripathy (DIG-Presidency Range) and Bholanath Pandey (superintendent of police, Diamond Harbour). The three officers were in charge of the security arrangements when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief JP Nadda came visiting the state last week during December 9 and 10, and his convoy was attacked by alleged Trinamool Congress supporters.

The Centre on Thursday asked for the officers to immediately join in their respective positions under Central deputation. The fresh order came after the Bengal government expressed inability to release the officers.

According to Banerjee’s tweet, “GoI’s order of central deputation for the 3 serving IPS officers of West Bengal despite the State’s objection is a colourable exercise of power and blatant misuse of emergency provision of IPS Cadre Rule 1954. This act is nothing but a deliberate attempt to encroach upon State’s jurisdiction & demoralize the serving officers in WB.”

Banerjee added in the tweet that the move “particularly before the elections” was against the basic tenets of the federal structure. She wrote that it is “unconstitutional” adding that “We wouldn’t allow this brazen attempt by the Centre to control the State machinery by proxy! West Bengal is not going to cow-down in front of expansionist & undemocratic forces.”