Yesterday, On 29th June, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose filed a defamation suit against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of making unfounded allegations. This legal action follows Banerjee’s claims about activities at the Raj Bhavan, which the governor vehemently denies. Additionally, Governor Bose has initiated similar suits against several TMC leaders in response to their remarks.
Calcutta: West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose initiated a defamation suit against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the Calcutta High Court on Saturday. This legal move comes in response to Banerjee’s claims that women felt unsafe visiting the Raj Bhavan due to certain activities.
The governor also filed similar defamation suits against several TMC leaders for their remarks.
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A source revealed,
“Governor CV Ananda Bose took the matter to the Calcutta High Court on Friday, filing a defamation suit against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party leaders for their comments,”
Bose commented,
“Mamata Banerjee has crossed all acceptable boundaries. She must conduct herself within the parameters of civilized behaviour. As the chief minister, I have always given her the respect and regard due to a constitutional colleague. However, she seems to believe she can bully anyone and malign my reputation,”
Governor Bose firmly stated,
“MY character cannot be undermined by Mamata Banerjee. He emphasized that any attack on his self-respect would not be tolerated and asserted that she cannot intimidate him. As Chief Minister, if she disagrees with me, there are constitutional mechanisms to address that.
He added,
“However, as an individual, she has no right to engage in character assassination through falsehoods. This is not about megalomania, it’s about her ‘Mamata mania’ which is unacceptable,”
Earlier in the day, Governor Bose condemned Banerjee’s comments, asserting that “public representatives should avoid creating misleading and defamatory impressions.”
He further announced,
“I intend to file a defamation case against Mamata Banerjee, the individual, who also holds the position of Chief Minister.”
During an administrative meeting at the state secretariat on Thursday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated,
“Women have informed me they are afraid to visit Raj Bhavan due to recent incidents reported there.”
On May 2, a contractual female employee of Raj Bhavan accused Vose of molestation, prompting an investigation by the Kolkata police. TMC Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen expressed her inability to comment without consulting the party leadership.
She told,
“I need to discuss this with my party leadership to understand the situation fully. This is a very sensitive issue,”
Senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha defended Bose, stating,
“I believe Governor Bose made the correct decision. This step should have been taken much earlier. I fully support him.”
Veteran CPI (M) leader Sujan Chakraborty observed that the ongoing conflict between Bose and Banerjee is detrimental to the state.
Chakraborty told ,
“This situation is dragging us down. They appear to have forgotten their constitutional duties. Their actions are damaging West Bengal’s reputation at the national level,”.
State Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury echoed similar concerns, saying that the discord between the Chief Minister and the Governor is harming West Bengal‘s image.
Chowdhury stated,
“The CM should either provide evidence or retract her claims. A proper investigation should be conducted,”
He added,
“Rather than making allegations, an impartial inquiry should be initiated into the claims from both sides, and appropriate action should be taken according to the law. These allegations and counter-allegations are damaging the image of West Bengal. This is nothing but a disgraceful episode,”
In conclusion, the defamation suit filed by Governor CV Ananda Bose against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee highlights the intense and often acrimonious nature of political relations in West Bengal. The outcome of this case will not only impact the personal reputations of the individuals involved but could also have far-reaching consequences for political discourse and governance in the state.