Key Takeaways
- The governor launched an anti-corruption cell at Raj Bhavan to hear student grievances directly.
- State Education Minister Bratya Basu warned the decision could be taken to the Supreme Court.
- Earlier, a Peace Room was opened to address Panchayat election‑related violence.
- Over 50 people have been killed since the Jun 8 announcement of the panchayat polls.
Kolkata: West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose has inaugurated an “Anti-Corruption Cell“ at the Raj Bhavan here to hear grievances from students across the state personally.
The move threatens to further sour his relations with the state government.
Reacting to the development, State Education Minister Bratya Basu warned his department would move the Supreme Court against the governor’s decision.
The Raj Bhavan opened the cell on August 1, a day after Bose announced such a cell to hear the grievances directly from the affected students in the state.
“The setting-up of the anti-corruption cell means the Governor wants to go on a confrontation course with the state government, ” Basu told reporters on Tuesday.
“This move is a direct attempt on the part of the Governor to bring the state higher education under his control. This state has a non-BJP government. Such a move is underway in the BJP-run states across the country. But such move in West Bengal is unprecedented, ” said the Education Minister.
“The action taken without consulting the state Higher Education department means he is prejudiced about the establishment being a place of corruption. This is absolutely undemocratic, ” Basu reiterated.
Before opening the anti-corruption cell at Raj Bhavan to hear the grievances of the students directly, Bose had opened a “Peace Room” at his gubernatorial office to have complaints related to Panchayat election-related violence.
Over 50 people have been allegedly killed since the Jun 8 announcement of the panchayat polls.
Hundreds were rendered homeless as they sought to escape the wrath of the political rivals in rural Bengal.
