Kolkata: A day after a lady staffer of Raj Bhavan levelled allegations of sexual harassment towards the West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, Raj Bhavan launched a recent assertion Friday afternoon claiming conspiracy to malign the picture of the Constitutional Head.
In an audio message shared by the Raj Bhavan, Governor Bose remarked that he welcomed the “generous allegations” towards him. “There is more in the offing, but one thing is clear, none of the absurd drama is going to deter me from determined efforts to expose corruption and curb violence. Character assassination is the last resort of a failing benevolence. Those who engineer these filthy narratives are totally morally corrupt,” he mentioned, in his first response to the allegations.
The assertion issued by Raj Bhavan Friday afternoon learn, “To dear members of the Raj Bhavan staff, Raj Bhavan received a confidential report that political forces have planted one more person in the Raj Bhavan with sinister intent. Matter is being verified by concerned agencies. These are just election ploys, nothing more, nothing less.”
The West Bengal governor mentioned that he wouldn’t be stunned if he was blamed for the Bengal famine of 1943 or the notorious Calcutta killings of 1946, going by the character of “political forces” within the state, with out naming the ruling occasion Trinamool Congress.
“I know Bengal is an uphill task, I am scaling the mountain. I am not surprised; I was briefed on what I can expect in Bengal from certain political parties. I have braved many storms. This is no storm; this is a storm in a teacup. I am the storm. Bring out all your weapons from the armory, I am prepared. Waiting for the next grenade, I am willing to receive it. I will continue the fight for the dignity of my brothers and sisters of Bengal,” he added.
At round 5 pm Thursday, the Kolkata Police outpost at Raj Bhavan had acquired a written grievance from a contractual worker of Raj Bhavan, accusing the governor of ‘touching her inappropriately’ in his chamber on two events. The grievance had come hours earlier than the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Kolkata Raj Bhavan for a scheduled night time halt. The grievance had then been despatched to Hare Avenue Police Station.
Indira Mukherjee, Deputy Commissioner of Police-Central, instructed ThePrint that there was no transfer on the grievance to this point due to VVIP motion within the metropolis as a result of prime minister’s go to. The PM will maintain public rallies in a number of districts, together with Nadia and Birbhum, and can depart for Jharkhand thereafter.
Nonetheless, the governor enjoys authorized immunity beneath Article 361 of the Structure identical to the President of the nation. In response to this part, the president, or the governor shall not be answerable to any courtroom for the train and efficiency of the powers and duties of his workplace, or for any act completed or purporting to be completed by him within the train and efficiency of these powers and duties.
Sources have instructed ThePrint that the state’s Residence Division has additionally been stored within the loop by the Kolkata Police concerning the matter
In a written grievance seen by ThePrint, the staffer mentioned that on 24 April, she was requested to satisfy the Governor along with her resume. She went to the Governor’s workplace at 12.45 pm and after talking to her, he allegedly “touched her inappropriately”. On 2 Might, he known as her once more, and this time, she took the supervisor alongside along with her to the convention room. However after he requested the supervisor to go away, he reportedly “touched her inappropriately” once more, and mentioned that he would name her at night time. The grievance, written in Bangla, is addressed to the officer-in-charge at Raj Bhavan.
ThePrint reached out to the complainant, however she declined to remark, saying the police have barred her from speaking to anybody now. In response to the letter, the 29-year-old staffer is a resident of Purba Medinipur district, and has been working at Raj Bhavan since June 2019, and resides within the hostel within the premises.
One other worker at Raj Bhavan, working with the complainant on the ‘peace room’, arrange by the governor as a helpline for residents’ grievances, mentioned that the complainant’s physique language on each the dates, talked about within the grievance letter, didn’t appear completely different. Chatting with ThePrint on situation of anonymity, she mentioned, “I still cannot believe such allegations have been made against the governor. I have been working at Raj Bhavan for over 15 years, but have never come across anything like this. I am a woman; I have never faced such instances.”
She went on to say that Bose had come right down to the ‘peace room’ and inquired concerning the Lok Sabha violence and corruption emails that had been acquired. “I greeted him with a good morning, he stood at the door and asked how many emails had been received, and if they had been sent to the Chief Election Officer. I have never seen him misbehave or behave in a manner that would make anyone uncomfortable. He saw himself as people’s governor, he would always check what the problems are. Such allegations against him seem unimaginable to me,” she added.
In response to different employees members on the Raj Bhavan, Bose had left for Kerala, his hometown, for casting his poll, and had reduce his journey quick to return on 1 Might for the PM’s go to to Kolkata. “On 2 May, SPG had taken over the security of Raj Bhavan, there was lots going on. I was on the morning shift and left in the afternoon. She (complainant) was on the evening shift and even came to the office to collect her security badge from the police for the PM’s visit. She had not told anyone such an incident had occurred. She was working and talking as normal, which is what took us all by surprise,” mentioned an worker.
The grievance has kicked up a political storm in West Bengal. Not solely has the TMC focused the Governor, but additionally sought his resignation. TMC chief and minister Shashi Panja instructed ThePrint, “The Prime Minister did not utter a single word on the molestation allegations against the Governor. I want to ask him, where did he spend the night in Kolkata?”
In the meantime, Raj Bhavan has banned the entry of Kolkata Police within the premises to conduct any probe.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
Additionally Learn: Shahjahan arrest solely a ‘small victory’ for Sandeshkhali — ‘want land back, fear cops will let him go’
