Kolkata: The decision of the Raj Bhavan to send a report to the central government recommending the imposition of President’s Rule in West Bengal has drawn sharp criticism from the state secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Mohammed Salim. Speaking on the potential invocation of Article 356, Salim remarked, “The incidents occurring across various parts of the state, including Murshidabad, clearly show the complete failure of Mamata Banerjee as the Police Minister, Home Minister, and Chief Minister. The state government has failed to maintain peace, harmony, and unity among the people. However, transferring power to the Governor under the guise of President’s Rule will not provide any solution.”
He further added, “West Bengal has bitter memories of President’s Rule in the past. Fragmenting the state or converting it into a Union Territory did not prevent terrorist attacks in Pahalgam, Kashmir. Today, even the National Security Advisor is untraceable. In Manipur, despite having a double-engine government, the lives of people remain in jeopardy. Ensuring the safety of citizens in this state is the responsibility of the elected government. President’s Rule is not a solution; history has proven that it only deepens the crisis.”
Salim’s comments underline the CPIM's staunch opposition to the potential central intervention and emphasize the need for the elected state government to address the challenges and restore public trust.
