Trinamool Congress wants Bengal Governor to go: MPs stage walkout in Rajya Sabha, protests start in the state

Trinamool Congress MPs today staged a walkout in the Rajya Sabha after chairman Venkaiah Naidu didn’t allow them to raise their protests against the Governor of West Bengal, Jagdeep Dhankar.

Trinamool’s chief national spokesperson, Derek O’Brien, later told journalists outside that the West Bengal Governor had insulted the people of scheduled caste and scheduled tribes as well as the state Assembly, the constitution and the people of the state by not signing the SC/ST bill.

The Bengal Assembly had to be adjourned for two days last week because the Governor had not signed three bills that were due to be discussed in the Assembly.

The Trinamool Congress spokesperson also accused the Governor of making anti-government remarks through tweets and statements all day. He said that Raj Bhawan in every state had been turned into “shakhas”.

Bengal’s ruling party and the state Governor Jagdeep Dhankar have been at loggerheads. While Dhankar has alleged that he is not being allowed to call meetings, he in turn has been accused of trying to run a parallel government in Bengal and trying to obstruct the work of the state government in various ways.

Trinamool Congress lawmakers today also staged a protest in Kolkata, in the state Assembly premises demanding removal of the Governor.

Meanwhile, legislation was passed in the state Assembly stating that the Governor can communicate with universities only through the state education department, and not directly. Neither will the Governor be able to appoint or terminate vice-chancellors as the final decision will be taken by the state. The Governor must also follow the order in which names have been suggested for appointing the vice-chancellor. He must select one of the three candidates nominated by the state as a representative in the university executive committee and won’t be able to nominate just any candidate of his own choice in the said committee. It further states that any decision made by the Governor regarding universities will be finalised only if the education department endorses it.