West Bengal emerging as police state: Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday mounted a fresh assault on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of running a "police state" and saying her "misplaced" stance about constitutional norms reflects "authoritarianism" which has no place in a democracy.

Dismissing allegations levelled by Banerjee that the governor was trying to "usurp powers" and create a "diarchy in the state", Dhankhar said the people of West Bengal are aware of who in the state is "usurper and extra-constitutional fountain of power" and who is running the "government and syndicates".

Dhankhar was responding to the chief minister's 13-page missive sent to Raj Bhawan on Saturday, in which she accused him of trying to "usurp powers" amid the COVID-19 crisis and termed his comments against her and the state's ministers as "intimidating and abusive".

The governor in his four-page letter said he is well aware of his obligations, limitations, powers and authority and would always live up to constitutional prescriptions, keeping in mind the welfare of the state.

"West Bengal, unfortunately, is emerging as a 'police state' with anyone posting on social media to the distaste of the ruling dispensation, gets a police knock and thereafter!