Centre attacking Bengal bureaucrats, trying to attack me, says Mamata Banerjee on recall of Chief Secretary to DoPT

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that the state government had received a letter from Centre asking the Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay to report to DoPT.

Expressing her shock on receiving the letter, she further explained that the Central government gave no explanation in the letter why the CS was being recalled.

The letter stated that Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay should report to DoPT, North Block at 10am on June 1.

Speaking about the letter CM Banerjee said,"No justice delivered to us. They haven’t stated in the letter why he has been called to Delhi. They have just mentioned one law."

She further stated that the West Bengal government had sent a letter earlier requesting an extension and the request had been approved.

"I am shocked to receive this letter. We had written to them saying that they cannot take unilateral decision. CS is the senior most bureaucrat in a government. It is shameful and never happened in the history," she said.

And added, "Never saw such a heartless PM and HM who are harassing bureaucrats while trying to attack me."

Chief Minister Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to withdraw the Centre's order recalling Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay, and said her government "is not releasing" the top bureaucrat.

In a five-page letter, Banerjee urged the prime minister to reconsider the Centre's decision to recall the chief secretary after giving him a three-month extension.