The West Bengal government has received at least one official reply to the show-cause notices it issued over a recent event in Kolkata, with the response reportedly placing the blame squarely on the event organisers.
Show-Cause Notices and Official Silence
On Tuesday, the state government issued show-cause notices to three senior officials: State DGP Rajeev Kumar, Bidhanagar Police Commissioner Mukesh, and Sports Department Secretary Rajesh Kumar Sinha. They were given a 24-hour deadline to respond. For most of Wednesday, officials remained tight-lipped about the matter, maintaining a silence on the issue.
However, by Wednesday evening, it was confirmed that one official reply had been submitted to the state government. While the identities of who submitted this specific reply were not immediately disclosed, the content pointed towards alleged lapses by the event's organisers.
Allegations Against the Organisers
Although the exact wording of the reply was not made public, sources indicated its central claim. The response alleged that the event organisers had turned a blind eye to the plans that were agreed upon during a prior coordination meeting.
Furthermore, the reply contained two specific accusations. First, it claimed the organisers failed to adhere to the initial timelines provided to the administration. Second, and more critically, it alleged they permitted "excess unwanted entries" to the event, which could have contributed to logistical or security challenges.
Next Steps for the Government
The state government is now in the process of examining the received reply. An official stated that the authorities will carefully peruse all submitted responses before determining the appropriate course of action. The next steps, which could range from administrative action to further investigation, hinge on the findings from these replies.
This development highlights the ongoing scrutiny of major public events in Kolkata and underscores the administration's focus on enforcing agreed protocols and ensuring public safety.
