"Sitting with you is sin": Mamata Banerjee attacks Bengal Governor over molestation allegation

May 11, 2024

Howrah (West Bengal) [India], May 11 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday launched an attack on Governor CV Ananda Bose over the allegations of sexual harassment against him and said she would not visit Raj Bhavan and sit with him anymore, as "sitting with someone who has committed such misdeeds is a sin".
Addressing a poll rally here, "If I am now called to the Raj Bhavan, I will not go... If the Governor wants to speak to me, he can call me on the road, and I will meet him there, After hearing about your misdeeds, sitting with you is a sin."
Responding to the Governor's 'didigiri' remark, the West Bengal Chief Minister said, "The governor said 'didigiri' (high-handedness) will not be tolerated... but Governor, you should resign first. Who are you to torture women?
Earlier this week, the governor claimed that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee practices "dirty politics" and warned that he would not accept her "Didigiri".
Mamata Banerjee also accused the governor of showing 'edited' CCTV footage of the alleged molestation allegation incident to prove his innocence.
"Yesterday, the governor called the press and showed an edited video. I have the entire footage. I have got another video," she said.
On Thursday, West Bengal Governor, CV Ananda Bose launched a new programme in which any citizen in the state, except the Chief Minister and the state police, can see the CCTV footage of the incident if they send an email to the Governor or call at the Raj Bhavan.
"Hon'ble Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose has launched a programme SACH KE SAAMNE in the background of the mischievous and fabricated allegations by the police that Raj Bhavan is not sparing the CCTV footage of an incident which is under the illegal and unconstitutional investigation of the police," the notice posted by Governor Bose on his official 'X' handle stated.
The Governor said that anyone who wants to see the full CCTV footage can send an email to adcrajbhavankolkata@gmail.com or governor-wb@nic.in or call at Raj Bhavan PBX at 033-22001641.
An employee at the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata last week had alleged that she was sexually harassed by Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose. The woman had approached the Hare Street police in Kolkata and lodged a complaint against the Bengal Governor.
Following allegations, the Bengal Governor had issued a statement on Thursday banning the entry of the police and Minister of State for Finance Chandrima Bhattacharya into the Raj Bhavan premises of Kolkata, Darjeeling, and Barrackpore for "defamation and anti-constitutional media statements."
"For defamation and anti-constitutional media statements against Governor, a junior gubernatorial appointee, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Department of Finance has been banned entry into the Raj Bhavan premises of Kolkata, Darjeeling and Barrackpore," the order said.