The Mamata Banerjee government which had in the past been at the receiving end of governor M.K, Narayanan’s criticism for its mishandling of some issues, has suddenly received sympathy and support from him following the Delhi attack.
Mr Narayanan did not merely confine himself to customarily condemn the assault: he gave the CPI(M) a piece of his mind. This has come as a shot in the arms of the chief minister.
In January and February the relations between the Raj Bhavan and the Writers’ Buildings had deteriorated sharply. On January 9, without mincing words, Mr Narayanan had described the attacks on CPI(M) leader Abdur Rezzak Molla and the convoy of CPI(M) supporters at Bhangar in South 24-Parganas by Trinamul Congress workers as a kind of goondaism. “I think the last two-three days have been both distressing and disturbing. We cannot and should not tolerate this kind of violence taking place,” he had added. This was a clear indictment of the state administration.
On February 14, he had voiced his displeasure over the sacking of Kolkata commissioner of police R.K. Pachnanda. It was suspected that Ms Banerjee gave him marching orders because he insisted on including Trinamul Congress councillor Mohammad Iqbal’s name as prime accused in the murder of Kolkata police sub-inspector Tapas Chowdhury during Garden Reach violence.
Mr Narayanan had said that if the top cop’s transfer had something to do with what happened in the last few days, then “clearly, there is something that is wrong and we will have to look into it.” He was so upset that in reply to a question, he had said: “ I presume they should answer whether they are capable of running a government or not. The governor cannot answer that, he can only act.” The state government was so irked by frequent criticism from Raj Bhavan that a senior minister Subrata Mukherjee accused the governor of speaking like a politician and had warned him with the “yellow card.”
The same governor has now virtually served a notice on the CPI(M). Denouncing the Delhi attack, he said “those responsible for the attack and their instigators have forfeited their right to function within a democratic framework.” He suggested that the CPI(M) politburo should apologise.
Mr Narayanan’s statement perturbed him to such an extent that CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat complained to President Pranab Mukherjee. “It is highly improper for the governor of a state, who holds a Constitutional post, to make such a statement”, Mr Karat told the President.