By publicly demanding that Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa take action against two of his Ministers and speaking to the media about their alleged profiteering from illegal mining operations, Karnataka Governor Hansraj Bhardwaj has crossed the Lakshman rekha (“Gubernatorial overreach,” July 15). He has crossed the jurisdictional limits conferred upon him by the Constitution. His action has reinforced the allegation that Governors are agents of the Centre. As for the BJP government, it should come clean and demonstrate the will to take on the mining lobby.
B. Suresh Kumar,
Coimbatore
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The editorial is absolutely right about gubernatorial overreach and impropriety in Karnataka. As per the constitutional provisions and norms, Governors have no business to publicly express their opinions against elected governments in the States where they serve. It is ironical, that an ex-Law Minister can so blatantly contravene these provisions and norms.
Mr. Bhardwaj had all the privileges to express his views on the mining scandal, and the alleged profiteering from the illegalities of two Ministers in the State Cabinet, privately to the Chief Minister and the President. By doing so, he could have exerted moral pressure on the BJP government without giving it the opportunity to gain sympathy due to his unconstitutional outpourings. It is clear that the magnitude of the open loot of societal mineral wealth can be brazened out shamelessly by a sizable section of the BJP top brass only at the party's peril.
Kasim Sait,
Chennai
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Mr. Bhardwaj seems to be functioning as a full time Congress functionary, throwing all constitutional norms to the winds. If he had any material against the Bellary brothers, he should have forwarded it to the Centre for initiating criminal action against them.
By his actions, the Governor has lowered the image of the august office held by him. The Congress has never hesitated to use governors to serve its narrow interests. In the process, it has harmed the evolution of a healthy polity.
G. Kulandaivelu,
Panruti
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The Governors appointed during the Congress regime are always guided by the Central leadership. They look for an opportunity to destabilise elected governments. It is time the post of Governor was abolished.
A. Amudhavanan,
Alangulam
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The editorial was exemplary. The constitutional provisions are often misused by the representatives of the Centre, thanks to their political affiliations. The federal character of the Constitution is deaden by such overreach. The powers of the Governors should be clarified in the light of the principles laid down in the Constitution.
The fair comments against the Yeddyurappa government are equally appreciable. The Reddy brothers cannot be allowed to get away just because the Governor exceeded his constitutional limits.
M. Xavier,
Vallioor
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Going by the events of the last one year and the editorial, it appears that there is no democratic rule in Karnataka. It seems to be in the hands of the powerful Bellary brothers. They continue to remain in the Cabinet despite the admission by the Chief Minister that nearly 30 million tonnes of iron ore have been exported illegally.
Article 356 of the Constitution may not be the remedy to displace an elected government controlled by corruption. But certainly well-meaning organisations can consider filing a petition under Article 32 for a CBI enquiry against the brothers who are undermining the democratic functioning in the State.
N.G.R. Prasad,
Chennai
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Keeping the Reddy brothers happy may help the BJP retain power in Karnataka. But in the long run, it will dent the credibility and image of the party and may turn out to a major reason for it to lose the next elections in Karnataka.
If the BJP was really serious in its contention that it is a party with a difference, it should have put its foot down on the Reddy brothers when they held the Karnataka government to ransom some time ago. That said, it is unfortunate that the Congress has tried to deal with the issue through the agency of Governor, which is unjustified.
M.D. Ravikanth,
Chennai
