Governor CV Ananda Bose of West Bengal took the initiative on Sunday to address a matter of concern by writing a formal letter to Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi. In this letter, he sought clarification regarding the permission granted for the Trinamool Congress's (TMC) ongoing indefinite sit-in demonstration outside Raj Bhavan, despite the imposition of Section 144 in the vicinity.
Raj Bhavan's surroundings, spanning approximately 100 to 150 meters in Kolkata, are currently subjected to the restrictions imposed under Section 144. This raises questions about the legality and authorization of the ongoing protest.
The indefinite sit-in demonstration, spearheaded by Abhishek Banerjee, has now entered its fourth day. Participants in this protest include prominent party figures, MLAs, and individuals who are resolute in their determination to continue until the governor agrees to meet with them at the protest site.
The trigger for this protest outside Raj Bhavan can be traced back to the TMC's preceding two-day demonstration in New Delhi. During this event, the party voiced its grievances over the alleged delays in disbursing payments for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and housing schemes designed to benefit economically disadvantaged families.
In a related development, a delegation of three TMC members met with Governor Bose in Darjeeling on Saturday. During this meeting, the delegation urged the governor to champion the cause of the pending MGNREGA dues with the Central government and expressed their desire for his presence at the ongoing demonstration outside Raj Bhavan.
The day before this meeting took place, Abhishek Banerjee took to social media, specifically X (formerly Twitter), to communicate developments and express his views. He noted, "The 3rd Day of our Dharna concluded with 2 moral victories. While the Zamindars were forced to leave their ivory towers in Delhi & come to Kolkata, the Governor finally agreed to meet our delegation at the earliest. I am confident Bengal will win this battle for its people!"
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