Mamata Banerjee accused Jagdeep Dhankhar of visiting North Bengal as a political stunt (File)
New Delhi:
In a new twist to the Governor versus Chief Minister fight in Bengal, Mamata Banerjee raised corruption charges for the first time.
Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar is a “corrupt man”, said the Chief Minister, alleging that he had been charged in the 1996 Jain hawala case involving a dairy that named politicians who had received kickbacks.
“He is a corrupt man. He was named in the chargesheet in the 1996 Hawala Jain case. Why has the central government allowed a governor like this to continue,” Mamata Banerjee told reporters this afternoon.
She also accused the Governor of visiting North Bengal as a political stunt as he only met MLAs and MPs of the BJP.
“Why did he suddenly tour North Bengal? I can sense a conspiracy to divide North Bengal,” she charged, apparently referring to BJP leaders’ demands for separate statehood for North Bengal and Jangalmahal.
Ms Banerjee said she had written multiple letters to the Centre to remove Mr Dhankhar.
“As per the Constitution, I will continue to meet him, talk to him and follow all the courtesies…But, the union government should act based on my letters,” she said.
The Governor said he was “shocked” at the Chief Minister’s allegations.
“I was never charge-sheeted in any Hawala scam. I am shocked at the Chief Minister’s charge. This is not expected from a seasoned politician,” Mr Dhankhar told reporters.
