The NDA government on Thursday justified >removal of Kamla Beniwal as Mizoram Governor on the ground that it was in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Constitution.
NDA Ministers defence on the sacking of Ms. Beniwal, who was not on the same page as Narendra Modi when she was the Governor of Gujarat, prompted the Congress to question as to why she was transferred few days ago to Mizoram if she was to be removed.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday told reporters that there was “no politics in it” [removal of Ms. Beniwal].
“Action against Kamla Beniwal was taken in accordance with the Constitution and there is no politics in it,” Mr. Naidu said adding that there were “serious allegations” against her.
Ms. Beniwal, 87, who was earlier Governor of Gujarat, was >shifted to Mizoram on July 6 .
Law Minister Ravishankar Prasad also said, “The decision to remove Kamla Beniwal as Governor is in accordance with Constitutional principles and conventions with the due approval of the President of India.”
Congress general secretary and Communication Department Chairman Ajay Maken tweeted, “If Governor Kamla Beniwal was to be removed, why was she transferred to Mizoram only a few days back?”
If Governor Kamla Beniwal was to be removed, why was she transferred to Mizoram only a few days back? >#VendettaPolitics
— Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) >August 7, 2014When Mr. Modi was Gujarat Chief Minister, in her capacity as Governor, Ms. Beniwal appointed retired Justice R.A. Mehta as Lokayukta in Gujarat against which the State went in appeal to the High Court and later the Supreme Court which upheld it last year.
Ms. Beniwal is the second Governor to be sacked after the removal of Puducherry Lt. Governor Virendra Kataria.
Soon after the Modi government assumed office, some Governors were forced to resign, while a few a resisted and are still in office.
There are indications that the Centre is also considering removal of Uttarakhand Governor Aziz Qureshi. While holding the gubernatorial post in Uttar Pradesh, Dr. Qureshi recently made controversial remarks in defence of the State government, stating “even God cannot stop such crime from taking place.”
He later in a clarification said that he meant that crime like rapes could not be stopped.
It is learnt that some decisions taken by the U.P. Raj Bhavan are also being examined by the Centre.
