News Brief
West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose (left) and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (right)
West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Friday (28 June) filed a defamation suit against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the Calcutta High Court, following her recent remarks alleging safety concerns for women at Raj Bhavan, the governor's residence.
The governor's legal action comes in response to Banerjee's statement during a state secretariat meeting on Thursday (27 June), where she claimed that women had expressed fear about visiting Raj Bhavan due to incidents reported there.
Governor Bose on Friday criticised Banerjee's comments and stated it was expected of public representatives not to create "erroneous and slanderous impressions".
The Bengal Governor has reportedly also initiated defamation proceedings against certain leaders of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for similar statements.
Banerjee on Thursday claimed that "Women have informed her they are afraid to visit Raj Bhavan due to recent incidents reported there", news agency PTI reported.
The controversy has escalated since 2 May, when a contractual female employee at Raj Bhavan alleged molestation by Bose, following which Kolkata Police launched an investigation.
Senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha said that Governor Bose took the right decision.
"I think Governor Bose has taken the right decision. He should have taken this decision long back. I fully support him for this," Sinha said.