Trinamool MP writes to MHA, questions summons to Bengal's top officials

Kolkata: A day after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) summoned two top officers of the West Bengal government on December 14, the state's ruling Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee on Saturday wrote to Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla alleging "political vendetta" as the motive for the summons.

"We firstly want to inform you that Law and Order subject is within the domain of the state under the 7th schedule of the state list of the Constitution of India. How in respect of Law and Order situation you can call both the two officers of any sorts or discussion? Can you under the Constitution of India and any other law, intervene in respect of Law and Order of the state?" Banerjee said in the three-page letter.

The Trinamool MP said that he was surprised to come across the letter and the MHA's summon was coercion of the officers of the state government with political vindictiveness.

The MHA summoned state chief secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay and director general of police Virendra for an explanation on the law and order situation in the state, especially in the wake of an attack on the convoy of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda on Thursday. But, the Mamata Banerjee-led government has decided not to send the chief secretary and police chief to the national capital.

On Friday, Bandopadhyay also wrote to the Union home secretary, saying he has been directed to request to dispense with the presence of the state officials in the meeting convened on December 14. In his two-page letter, the chief secretary mentioned the steps taken by the West Bengal government to ensure the protection of Nadda's convoy.

"It appears also you are interfering with the federal structure embodied under the Scheme of the Constitution of India," Banerjee said, pointing out that the development appeared to be politically motivated.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar also submitted a report to Union home minister Amit Shah on the attack on Nadda's convoy in Diamond Harbour.