Union minister Adhir Chowdhury today criticised the Mamata Banerjee government for trying to 'settle old scores' with WBHRC chairman A K Ganguly over the law intern case, but said that the former supreme court judge should resign on moral grounds.
Justice Ganguly had initiated several suo motu probes including the arrest of Professor Ambikesh Mahapatra of Jadavpore University for circulating a cartoon of the chief minister on the Internet, the arrest of a farmer who asked the chief minister a question at a rally and the Kamduni rape case and others.
"The Trinamool is now trying to settle old scores with him as he had made many recommendations which were not liked by this government," Chowdhury, Union Minister of State for Railways, said.
"This is nothing new. This is the nature of this government that if anyone speaks against it then it will not tolerate it," Chowdhury said.
He, said, however, that Justice Ganguly should resign on moral grounds.
"The observations that has been made by the Supreme Court panel about 'unwelcome behaviour'. I do not know the exact definition of unwelcome behaviour," he said.
"However, in view of the ramifications of the incident, I think on moral grounds, it is better that Justice Ganguly should resign and face the consequences. I wish he comes out with flying colours," Chowdhury said.
A Supreme Court committee of three judges had indicted Justice Ganguly for his 'unwelcome behaviour' and 'conduct of sexual nature' toward the intern.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has twice written to President Pranab Mukherjee asking him to take appropriate action urgently against Justice Ganguly.
Justice Ganguly has denied the charges and refused to comment on the demands for his resignation from the West Bengal Human Rights Commission.
