New Delhi: The verbal duel between West Bengal government and state Governor KeshariNathTripathi continues with both parties accusing each other over communal violence in Basirhat in South 24 Parganas.

Reacting to Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee’s accusations that he has crossed his constitutional limits in targeting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Governor KeshariNathTripathi has said it was an attempt to cover the lapses of the state government and divert the attention from the real issue.

In a press statement, Tripathi reiterated that he did not insult or threaten Banerjee during Tuesday’s telephonic conversation and said Raj Bhawan has not become the party office of BJP or the RSS.

“The Governor has been apprised of the statement of ShriParthaChatterjee, Hon’ble Education Minister and regrets to say that this is an attempt to cover the lapses of the State Government and divert the attention from the main issue of law and order. The Governor is fully aware of his constitutional obligations and limitations and needs no lesson from anyone on this count,” read the press statement issued from Raj Bhawan.

Banerjee had alleged that the Governor had threatened and insulted her when he had called her following the communal violence in Basirhat.

Intensifying the attack against Tripathi, state Education Minister ParthaChatterjee has said Tripathi had crossed his constitutional limits by insulting Banerjee and said that he was trying to “instigate people who are trying to create unrest in the state”.

Chatterjee also observed that Raj Bhawan, the residence of West Bengal Governor, has become the party office of BJP.

Saying that the “allegations of the Chief Minister amount to insulting and humiliating the Governor and his Office”, the statement read, “the Governor further reiterates that he did not utter a single word to insult or threaten the Chief Minister. Her allegation is baseless and meant only to emotionally blackmail the people of West Bengal. Instead of making accusations against him, it is better for the Chief Minister and her colleagues to direct their attention to maintain peace and law and order in the State without making any distinction on the basis of caste, creed or community.”