Kolkata: A day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that her phone was being tapped as part of surveillance by the Centre, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar lashed out saying that only she knows what evidence she has to substantiate her claims. He instead said that several political leaders and businessmen in the state told him that their privacy was also compromised.
“Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself knows what she has said. She only knows what evidence she possesses (to back her allegation of phone tapping). But I can tell one thing that a large number of people, including political leaders and businessmen, have told me that their privacy is compromised,” Dhankhar said on the sideline of an event. The governor’s statement comes after Mamata claimed that her phone was also being tapped and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take serious note of it. Mamata was reacting to reports of alleged surveillance of phones through WhatsApp.
Reacting to the Governor's statement on Mamata's privacy breach claims, TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee, said, “Governor is acting like a spokesperson of a political party. Let him release the list of people whom he met and alleged that their privacy is being compromised here in Bengal. You will see most of the people belong to the BJP. Why he always reacts to the statement made by our Chief Minister. Why doesn’t he comment on BJP leadership including Dilip Ghosh. People in Bengal are intelligent enough to understand why he is making such statement.”
Meanwhile, in an apparent reference to TMC over the issue of Article 370, Dhankhar asked political parties not to politicise violence there. “A prolonged illness was cured after 70 years in Kashmir. It is painful that some people are doing politics over this issue. I would like to tell them that if you want to do politics, then look at yourself also. I am pained when I see violence in the state of West Bengal and the violence executed with political motives.” The Governor also expressed his dismay over not being invited to the International Film Festival in Kolkata this year. He said, “Your Governor so far has not been invited to a single government function. I am probably the only Governor in India who was not greeted by the state government on Diwali. I am hurt. Can you beat it, so many countries are coming for the International Film Festival and your Governor is nowhere. Put yourself in my position. This is not the way.”
