CM's demand for UN intervention on CAA harmful for India's image: Dhankar

"I am certainly against any Indian citizen, in whatever capacity, trying to take our dispute (or) resolution to any outside body, including the United Nations," he said
at the sidelines of an ASSOCHAM event held here earlier today.

"I was in deep pain when I found our honourable chief minister's observation yesterday. It was in public domain," he stated and added that he received several
calls on Ms Banerjee's comment.

"Given the position she holds, the stature she has, the experience she carries as a leader, she is globally known. Anything emanating (from her) will send wrong signals and I am sure if it affects our democratic fabric, she will not want that," Mr Dhankar added.

"I, therefore, went public and appealed to her very firmly and politely that this (her demand) should be withdrawn. This doesn't suit her stature, either for the position she holds or experience she has," the governor commented.

 "Our Indian Constitution provides very effective, efficacious mechanism for resolution of disputes of individuals, between states or between individual and states," he pointed out.

"And this current controversy is already under the Supreme Court," Mr Dhankar said.

"I have been appalled, pained, disturbed at the chief minister's comment," he further said and added that it has the "potential to dent the democratic polity of India".

"I again urge the chief minister to seriously ponder over my suggestions... with folded hands I again request her this should not be done," he said.

"Let us keep our situation within the system of our Constitution give to us by our founding fathers," he stated.

"Any such efforts will send very wrong signals outside," he said pointing out that Ms Banerjee's comments could hurt India's image.

"I am pretty sure she would ponder over my suggestion, heed my advise and look to people's reaction and arrive at some kind of situation where the damage is repaired," he added.

The Governor said Mamata Banerjee should not have made the "suggestion for UN intervention" even in the "heat of passion" as India has a vibrant democratic setup capable of resolving disputes.

However, the Chief Minister Mamata backtracked on her comment, saying the only thing she meant was an “opinion poll” under neutral observers like Human Rights Commission.

Ms Banerjee had demanded that a committee comprising members of an impartial organisation like the United Nations be called in to determine "how many people were in favour or against" the Citizenship Amendment Act.

She had also said there was no need for representatives of political parties in such a committee.

 Incidentally, the West Bengal Governor has been a vocal critic of Ms Banerjee and her TMC government ever since he assumed office earlier this year.

Recently, the chief minister in a letter requested him not to criticize her government's work through frequent tweets and press briefings amid CAA protests across the state.