In order to give a message to Mamata Banerjee that her arrogance would no longer be tolerated, the Modi government has called Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay on central deputation. A few days ago, his tenure was extended for three months, but after Mamata Banerjee kept Prime Minister Modi and Governor Dhankar waiting for more than half an hour for the review meeting of relief efforts, the state chief secretary was called by the Union government.
Mamata Banerjee did not attend the review meeting and this did not go well with the Union government, which, in order to teach a lesson to her, recalled the chief secretary of her government. This is a message to Mamata Banerjee that next time she misbehaves, the state might be brought under the President’s rule.
Previously, the Union government has recalled a few IPS officers who were working more like private employees of Mamata Banerjee instead of holding the sanctity of constitutional post. The Home Ministry is the cadre controlling authority for IPS officers, while the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which gave the order today to recall the Bengal Chief Secretary, comes under the Prime Minister’s Office or PMO.
So, this time, the PMO took a note on the matter in order to ensure that Mamata Banerjee gets the message. The TMC leaders were rattled by this. “Has this ever happened since Independence? Forced central deputation of a Chief Secretary of a state. How much lower will Modi-Shah’s BJP stoop? All because people of Bengal humiliated the duo and chose Mamata Banerjee with an overwhelming mandate,” Trinamool MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray said.
Almost every minister tweeted against the conduct of Mamata Banerjee and other chief ministers like Shivraj Singh Chouhan also slammed her. “I am also a Chief Minister, and was there at the post even during the time of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ji, but I never disrespected him,” Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated.
“You do not want to discuss the welfare of the people who chose you, if this is not your ego then what is?” he asked.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also tweeted against the conduct and said, “Mamata Didi’s conduct today is an unfortunate low. Cyclone Yaas has affected several common citizens and the need of the hour is to assist those affected. Sadly, Didi has put arrogance above public welfare and today’s petty behaviour reflects that.”
Mamata Didi’s conduct today is an unfortunate low. Cyclone Yaas has affected several common citizens and the need of the hour is to assist those affected. Sadly, Didi has put arrogance above public welfare and today’s petty behaviour reflects that.
— Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) May 28, 2021
Union minister Prakash Javadekar said it was a black day in India’s rich democratic heritage. Union minister Smriti Irani said, “As the Prime Minister of India is kept waiting for a meeting held to expedite assistance to the people of WB, the petulance shown by the CM of Bengal is shocking indeed. For once she could’ve put petty politics aside, the spirit of cooperative federalism is the need of the hour.”
Contrast the behaviour of Mamata Banerjee with that of Naveen Pattnaik, who is Chief Minister in the neighbouring state and a leader of a regional party like Mamata Banerjee.
“Thank you Hon’ble PM @narendramodi Ji for visiting #Odisha in the aftermath of #CycloneYaas. Apprised him about the large scale devastation caused by the cyclone and steps taken by the State Govt ahead of the cyclone and the ongoing restoration efforts,” tweeted the CM of Odisha after meeting with the Prime Minister.
“As the country is at the peak of #COVID19 pandemic, we have not sought any immediate financial assistance to burden the Central Govt and would like to manage it through our own resources to tide over the crisis,” he added.
The conduct of Mamata Banerjee was unprofessional and she has not only defiled the post of Prime Minister but of Chief Minister also, and now she is being taught a lesson by the Union government.
Punishing the Chief Secretary instead of Jihadi Momota herself – is neither a sign of bravado nor will it give any message to her 🤗 Modi has been looking increasingly helpless over the past several months – too scared to act … whether is the Jihadi Begums of Shaheen Bagh, the protesting Kisan Annadata’s, the several riotous bhai jaan’s who keep breaking into arson & riots at the drop of a skull cap, or the disgustingly defiant Jihadi Momota 😒 That’s the reason why our judiciary has got emboldened to poke its nose in every executive decision, with over-reach becoming a norm these days ! We can only imagine, and derive some vicarious satisfaction – how Pappu ki Dadi would have dealt with such a situation !