West Bengal Governor Issues Notice To Mamata Banerjee Over Remarks On Providing Shelter To Bangladeshi Citizens

West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose has requested a detailed report from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding her recent provocative and divisive pronouncement about offering refuge to 'helpless people' from Bangladesh.

Banerjee's statement came amidst the severe and aggressive student-led protests against civil service reservations in the neighbouring country.

In a post on X, the Raj Bhavan Media Cell emphasised that matters related to external affairs fall under the central government's jurisdiction.

The post further stated, "Public statement by a chief minister undertaking the responsibility to provide shelter to people who may be coming in from a foreign nation implies Constitutional transgression of a very serious nature."

The Raj Bhavan Media Cell added, "In the above situation, HG (governor) has called upon the chief minister to furnish a comprehensive report under Article 167 of the Constitution, on what basis such a public announcement has been made disregarding constitutional proprieties; whether any action is being taken in this direction without getting the required concurrence from the Govt of India; and what action is taken to see that the type of anticipated immigration into the country does not affect the normalcy of life in the border areas within Bengal and does not impact the demographic balance of the state."

The post, attributed to an officer on special duty, included a disclaimer stating that the content was intended for Raj Bhavan staff and should not be quoted as statements from the Governor.

Earlier, while addressing a rally, Banerjee had remarked, “I should not speak on the affairs of Bangladesh as it is a sovereign nation, and whatever needs to be said on the issue is a subject matter of the centre. But I can tell you this, if helpless people come knocking on our doors, we will surely shelter them.”