Bengal Guv Asks On-Duty Cops To Vacate Raj Bhavan After Suvendu Adhikari Claims Poll Victims Were ‘Denied’ Entry

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has ordered on-duty personnel of Kolkata Police to immediately vacate Raj Bhavan premises, an official said on Monday. The order came in the wake of allegations that the city police personnel posted at the Raj Bhavan were not allowing the victims of post-poll violence in the state to meet him and update the Governor about their grievances.

“Bose is planning to convert the police outpost near the North Gate of the Raj Bhavan into a ‘Jan Manch’ (public platform)…The governor has directed police officers deployed inside the Raj Bhavan, including the officer-in-charge, to immediately vacate the premises,” news agency PTI reported quoting an official as saying.

The move comes days after the police prevented BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and alleged victims of post-poll violence in the state from entering the Raj Bhavan to meet Bose, despite the governor giving them written permission in this regard.

Police on Thursday prevented Adhikari from entering the Raj Bhavan with alleged victims of post-poll violence, citing Section 144 of CrPC, which prohibits large gatherings outside the Governor’s House.

Following this, Adhikari and another person approached the Calcutta High Court asserting that despite having written permission, police had barred their entry into the Governor’s House.

On Saturday, the Calcutta High Court questioned whether Bose was effectively under “house arrest” and allowed Adhikari to visit Raj Bhavan with the victims upon receiving permission from the Governor’s office.

On Sunday, Adhikari, led over 100 ‘victims’ of post-poll violence to the Raj Bhavan on Sunday to meet Governor CV Ananda Bose.

At the meeting, the Governor said, “The Calcutta High Court has issued an order. They are surprised that the Governor is seemingly under house arrest, as those who were attacked could not meet him. We will ensure Bengal is free from violence. I pledge in the name of Netaji, Rabindranath, and Swami Vivekananda that I will fight till the end.”

Assuring the invocation of Constitutional provisions, Bose mentioned his intention to press upon the state government to fulfill its duty in protecting citizens’ lives and property. The Governor also promised to take up the matter with the Centre.