“Tears of that young girl shook my conscience”: Mamata Banerjee Hits out at Bengal Governor over Charges of Sexual Misconduct, Questions PM Modi’s Silence over the issue

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday lashed out at Governor CV Ananda Bose over the charges of sexual misconduct leveled against him by a contractual employee of the Raj Bhavan. Speaking at a poll rally in Bengal’s Purba Bardhaman, the Trinamool Congress Supremo alleged that it is not the first instance where such allegations have been raised against the Bengal Governor, but the tears of the young victim compelled her to speak out this time.

“Only yesterday, a young girl employed at the Raj Bhavan came out and spoke out against the inappropriate treatment meted to her by the Bengal Governor…This is not the first time that I have received such complaints, I have received several such complaints against him in the past, but, I did not say a word. But yesterday, the tears of that young girl shook my conscience and moved me,” said the West Bengal Chief Minister.

The Trinamool Congress Supremo took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi who stayed the night at the Raj Bhavan and questioned his alleged silence over the issue. “Before you (PM Modi) speak about Sandeshkhali, explain why the Governor has done such a thing… Not once, but twice he has molested that girl. In a video I received, I saw her tears. You stayed the night over at the Raj Bhavan, but you did not say a word about it?” thundered Banerjee. “Your men were there inside the Raj Bhavan premises when the girl left with tears in her eyes. She is scared to come back to work…How do you talk about the welfare of the mothers of the sisters, don’t you feel ashamed?” she added.

However, in a statement released by the Raj Bhavan, Governor CV Ananda Bose dismissed all charges and said that “truth will triumph.” “Truth shall triumph. I refuse to be cowed down by engineered narratives. If anybody wants some election benefits by maligning me, God bless them. But they cannot stop my fight against corruption and violence in Bengal,” reads the statement.

A contractual worker of the Raj Bhavan on Thursday leveled charges of sexual molestation against Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose. She alleged that the Governor touched her inappropriately, and was then taken to the Hare Street Police Station to file a complaint. The complaint came hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kolkata on Thursday evening. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stayed at the Raj Bhavan for the night, ahead of his election rallies in Bengal on Friday.