“All political parties must together bring West Bengal out of the debris of bhangchur (destruction), bandh (strikes) and bomabaji (bomb blasts). No party should countenance the use of unauthorised arms. All provocations, in word and deed, across the political spectrum, should cease,” the Governor said in his farewell message.

He also lamented that a great deal of mistrust has grown among political parties and clashes are erupting because of this.

“It is a matter of great regret that distrust between different political parties and personalities, as also within our institutions such as our universities, is disfiguring life in our state. We have to rectify this situation by conditioned mindsets. The state has known healthy political debates which sparkle but do not ignite. That tradition has to be maintained,” the message said.

Gandhi also said that the violence perpetrated by Maoists had no place in the state and advised them to emulate the example of African National Congress, which disbanded its guerrilla squad after it found that maintaining those squads were not paying dividends.

“Maoist violence is not only incompatible with a political democracy but is repugnant to it,” the Governor said.

He said all political parties should look at the problem of Junglemahal through a “non-political lens” and involve the NGOs and other organisations for the development of the area.

On the Gorkhaland issue, he urged the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) to withdraw bandh and agitation and take to the path of talks. “The tripartite talks will be the best solution for the problem,” Gandhi said.

The Governor, who often invited criticism from the Marxists for being critical of the state government’s policies, said he had no resentment for being criticised. “I shall assume that I deserved such criticism. But I would like to say that I bear no resentment whatsoever about it,” he added.