Opposition leaders on Wednesday came out strongly against Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit for holding a meeting with officials and also the State government for meekly endorsing his action.
DMK working president and Leader of the Opposition M.K. Stalin said the Governor conducting a review meeting with officials instead of asking the (AIADMK) government to prove its majority in the Assembly would in no way help Centre-State relations or in streamlining the administration.
In a statement, he said the Governor’s action was part of the BJP’s plan to systematically erode the State’s rights. The fact that the Governor decided to continue with his review at Tirupur on Wednesday was a worrying sign, he said.
Tamil Nadu has been raising its voice for State autonomy for over 50 years, Mr. Stalin said, condemning the Centre and the Governor for taking over authority “unconstitutionally” from the government elected by the people.
Recalling the debates during the framing of the Constitution, Mr. Stalin said the Governor was only an agent of the Centre in a decorated post and intervening in the functioning of the State did not augur well. It was not befitting of the post also, he said, hoping that the Governor, a seasoned politician, would realise this fact.
As far as Tamil Nadu was concerned, the government machinery was in doldrums, he said, blaming the previous Governor in-charge and the BJP-led Centre for creating the mess. Despite the interference by the Centre on numerous occasions eroding the rights of the State, the present Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister were clinging to their chairs helplessly, unable to question such unconstitutional moves in contrast to the Puducherry Chief Minister. There was a danger of the State losing all its rights before this government is sent packing, the DMK leader warned.
‘Beyond his powers’
Accusing the Governor of acting beyond his powers, MDMK general secretary Vaiko said he had violated tradition by chairing the meeting of officials in Coimbatore.
He recalled that in 1980, he had questioned in the Rajya Sabha the very necessity of having Governors on whom poor people’s tax money was being wasted. “Mr. Purohit’s action has undermined the rights of the States and we cannot allow it. His behaviour has set a bad precedent,” he said.
Mr. Vaiko added that Governors in Puducherry and Delhi were functioning like dictators, without showing any respect to the governments elected by the people.
“Now, the Tamil Nadu Governor has also joined them. It has raised the question whether the State government is functioning or not,” he said.
Sidelined AIADMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran, in a series of tweets, said the Governor’s action was the BJP’s way of intruding into the terrain of the State government like it did in Delhi and Puducherry. Such interferences by the Governor would not have happened had former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa been alive.
VCK leader said the Chief Minister must condemn the Governor for his “overreach”. “It raises fear about whether President’s rule has already been enforced in Tamil Nadu or this is just a precursor,” he said.
PMK MP Anbumani Ramadoss said the Governor does not have any specific powers and can only act on the recommendations of the Cabinet.
TMC leader G.K. Vasan said even if the Governor’s consultations with officials were “only for the welfare of the State, it would only lead to suspicion” given the present situation in the State.
Manithaneya Makkal Katchi leader M.H. Jawahirullah said, “When an elected government is in place, Mr. Purohit’s actions would be dangerous to the democracy.”
In a joint statement, MLAs belonging to AIADMK’s allies – U. Thaniyarasu, M. Thamimun Ansari and S. Karunaas – expressed shock that the government was silent over the issue.
