Bengal Governor organises state ‘foundation day’ event despite CM Mamata's objections

At the programme, Bose spoke on ‘zero tolerance’ for violence and emphasised the right of the common people to vote freely.

The Raj Bhavan, Kolkata, commemorated the “Foundation Day of West Bengal” on Tuesday, a day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to Governor CV Ananda Bose requesting him not to hold any such programme.

After reading out a message from President Droupadi Murmu, Governor Bose addressed a selective gathering at Throne Hall in Raj Bhavan, the venue of the programme. While highlighting the state’s potential, achievements, great men and events, he stated: “With this legendary lineage we, the people of Bengal, should have zero tolerance for violence, disruptive activities and corruption in our lives.”

Also Read | Mamata asks Governor not to hold 'foundation day' event

Sharing his vision, he termed “Leap Bengal”, the governor presented his suggestions for the state. “And people must rise in unison if there is any direct or indirect attack on its sacred institutions of thought, belief, speech, expression and more importantly, Vote,” Governor Bose stated, talking in the context of the Constitution, fundamental rights and duties, and democracy.

Later, Raj Bhavan issued a five-point note on the “factual position” about the commemoration of the foundation day, in view of “some apparent disinformation doing the rounds”. The note stated that advisory for the commemoration of foundation day of states was communicated by the Centre on May 11, this year, and proposed observing the same by all Raj Bhavans. The Raj Bhavan has already observed five state foundation days, and West Bengal’s was in the sequence.

The state government’s communication – expressing reservation about the programme with a request to not to hold it – was received on Monday evening, and on the same day President Murmu had sent her greetings. The Raj Bhavan added that the contents of the state government’s letter “will be treated with all seriousness and will receive priority attention and taken up with competent authorities for appropriate action”.

Suvendu Adhikari, BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, expressed happiness and extended gratitude for Raj Bhavan’s initiative. He led a walk to observe the occasion. “On this day in 1947, the Legislature of Bengal on the initiative of Dr Shyamaprasad Mukhopadhyay gave a verdict in favour of designating this state as a part of India. Bengali Hindu’s only swabhumi or homeland – West Bengal was created,” Adhikari mentioned in a tweet.

“... Suvendu Adhikari’s attempt to distort history is both misleading and divisive. West Bengal was not founded on the basis of any particular religious identity…,” Kunal Ghosh, Trinamool spokesperson, stated in a response-tweet.

In her letter, Banerjee had reminded Governor Bose that the state was carved out of the undivided state of Bengal in 1947, involved pain and trauma, and uprooting of millions of people across the border. The state was formed through “Radcliffe Award” – which was offered legitimacy by the departing colonial government, and the Partition is seen as a result of unleashing of communal forces that could not be resisted, then, the chief minister had stated.

The Trinamool Congress condemned the governor’s decision to commemorate the foundation day of West Bengal. “Today, our leaders held a protest against such an unconstitutional move near the Gandhi Murti,” the party tweeted.