Siliguri, 01st November: Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar left for Darjeeling today, for the first time in his ten-year term.
Taking a jibe at the state government for shaking hands with the fugitive GJM leader Bimal Gurung, the Governor stated that when a person holding a constitutional position engages with a fugitive, then it cannot be considered a mistake. He said that no individual, big or small, is bigger than the country’s Constitution.
“A fugitive of the law is also a fugitive of the society,” the Governor added.
With this, he once again spoke on the issue of Gorkhaland and said that the Indian Constitution has a solution to all problems. “When matters like Ram Mandir and Article 370 can be resolved, then Gorkhaland is possible too,” the Governor added.
Speaking on the COVID-19 pandemic, he said that the state of the health infrastructure in West Bengal was exposed during such a trying time. He maintained that the situation could have been good if the state had adopted the Ayushman Bharat scheme of the Centre. Under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, the Centre had deposited Rs 12,000 directly into the bank account of every farmer of the country, except West Bengal, the Governor further added.
Also, Governor Dhankhar advised the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Darjeeling to work in public interest. He asserted that the law and order in the state have completely collapsed. Dhankhar also criticised the state government for “rising” crime against women in the state. He further condemned terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda spreading in the state. The Governor further stated that the people of the state are “paying price for an avoidable confrontation” between the Centre and the Trinamool Congress.
The Governor stated that the main purpose of his month-long visit to North Bengal is to assess “the ground realities”.