A few prominent intellectuals of West Bengal have written to President Ram Nath Kovind, urging him to act against Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy for allegedly “inciting and aiding violence” through social media posts.
The development comes days after Mr. Roy, in a post on a micro-blogging site, appeared to defend the bringing down of a Lenin statue in Agartala. “What one democratically elected government can do, another democratically elected government can undo. And vice-versa,” read the post.
“No Governor — holding a constitutional post — can say what Mr. Roy has said on Twitter on March 6 and 7. Mr. Roy’s comments are creating tension in the country... It must have come to your notice. Unfortunately, instead of fulfilling his constitutional duties, he is inciting and aiding violence. We demand the highest constitutional action against him,” said the letter sent on Friday.
The letter was signed, among others, by Sahitya Academy Award winner Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, novelist Nabaneeta Dev Sen, former Trinamool Congress MP Kabir Suman and Indologist Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri. The Governor brushed aside the allegations. “Actually it is not all these poor souls’ fault. Either they depend on you-know-who for largesse or were scared into signing that mail,” he said.
