People know who is the usurper, extra-constitutional fountain of power: Dhankhar tells Mamata in counter-letter

In response to Banerjee's Apr 2 letter where Dhankhar was accused of insulting the CM, the Governor said, "... Earlier your refrain was "Governor is running parallel government". The bitter truth is people in the state know only too well 'Who in the state is usurper and extra-Constitutional fountain of power'! Who runs government and syndicates! Who is this ABCD! An open secret! Surely I am not the one!..."

Apart from hitting out at the CM over the alleged breakdown of the government machinery in tackling Covid-19, Dhankhar accused Banerjee of turning West Bengal into a "police state".

".. The State unfortunately is emerging as a "police state" with anyone posting on social media, to the dictate of the ruling dispensation, gets a police knock and thereafter !!" said the Governor.

Dhankhar has also criticised the Mamata Banerjee government for disposing the Covid-19 dead bodies with "heartless indescribable insensitivity".

In blunt words, the CM had said in her letter, ".. we have a list of your communications, too long to attach, wherein, immediately after assuming this exalted office, you have used words about me and, even more importantly, my ministers and officers, which, even with maximum restraint, can only be described as vituperative, intemperate, intimidating, abusive and insulting;"

Banerjee also said no other Governor in the entire country used such words against a CM since 1950 when India adopted its own Constitution.

Besides citing a number of court judgements to highlight the powers of the Governor and the CM, Banerjee stated Dhankhar may disagree with the state government, voice his difference of opinion but has no scope of establishing his authority.

"You may (politely) bring your grievance to my attention (not write to Ministers, departments, officers or go to Press or public) and, If it is still not resolved to your satisfaction, there is, unfortunately no other power in you, so long as my Government commands the confidence of the Legislature.." Banerjee said. 

Referring to Banerjee's comment as "lamentable", Dhankhar wrote in his letter, "This smacks of authoritarianism that has no place in democracy where all are accountable.."