[ad_1]
Taking the confrontation between the constitutional president and the elected government to another level, Punjab Governor Panwaralal Purohit on Wednesday threatened Chief Minister Bhagwant Man with legal action for using “insulting” language against him outside the Vidhan Sabha.
Addressing the media in Punjab’s Raj Bhawan, a day after Mann slammed the governor on the floor of the house during the two-day special session, Purohit said, “He mocked me. He used insulting words against me in the Vidhan Sabha. He is protected there, where the chief’s rule applies.” The lower house is in the Vidhan Sabha. I can’t do anything if he says anything there. But if he says something outside I will take appropriate action. I am the constitutional president.”
Asked about the action he could take, he said, “I have a group of lawyers. If he says something, I will take a legal opinion from them as to what action can be taken.”
He said: I am a ruler. I can’t stoop to his level (in the use of language). I must uphold the dignity of Raj Bhawan. You are now the best judge. I don’t want to say anything.”
In his question-raising messages, Purohit said he was disturbed by the word “love letter” used by the prime minister.
He said that the position of prime minister has dignity. It must be preserved. “I watched on TV and read newspapers, he made fun of me in the Vidhan Sabha. He used the word ‘love letter’ in writing to him asking questions about official matters. This word was used for the governor. These are the orders of the Supreme Court. He only went to the Supreme Court.”
The governor also said he would sanctify the assembly’s two-day special session, which concluded on Tuesday. “I’m going to check this out if this was a lengthy budget session because they didn’t get the session. It was just adjourned. Then they didn’t send the agenda to me nor the Speaker until eleven o’clock. I’m going to check if they can carry out the legislative business in this Extended session or not. If this was the extended session, they could only have a budget-related discussion,” he said, questioning the sanctity of the special session.
In the same way, he said he would do so for the four important bills passed by the assembly on Tuesday, including freeing Gurbani from the One Channel monopoly, removing the governor from the post of Chancellor of Punjab Universities, and appointing a DGP of its own. He said he would check whether these laws were constitutional or not.
“Whether I remain a chancellor or not is immaterial. I am the ruler. When I get the bill, I will check it according to the constitution. If it is correct according to the constitution, then fine. Otherwise, I will see what to do. Otherwise, I will reject the bills,” said Purohit.
The day after the chief minister said that the governor had used the state helicopter, Purohit announced that he would no longer use the state helicopter and would only travel in his car. “I’m conservative. I’m the governor. However, I don’t spend much. Ask those secretaries. When they fly, they’re allowed in business class. I’ve flown economy since I’m the governor. What blame do they blame me for? – They gave me the helicopter. So They sent me to the border by helicopter – does that mean I have to applaud them?Is the governor so cheap?If they give me the helicopter to go to the border, what’s the problem?I have never used the helicopter on my personal visits.Now, I declare that I will not use the Punjab government helicopter.I live the life Simple. I’ll run it. I’ve barely used it 3-4 times. Now, I’m not going to take your (government) helicopter. ‘Mukhya Mantri ji aap khush rahiye’. I can’t even imagine that the Chief Minister can talk that way about the ruler,” he said. Purohit.
Speaking about SIT, Government Minister Lal Chand Katharuchak said he would get a legal opinion and then act on it.
Regarding the prime minister’s non-response to his messages, he said that the prime minister and the governor are constitutional officials with specific roles and responsibilities. The Governor is entitled to request information from the Cabinet under Section 167B on matter relating to the administration of state affairs and purposeful legislation. He added that if the Council of Ministers did not provide the information, then this is a failure in the performance of duty.
“The Cabinet is obligated to provide this. I only asked for information on this and not on his personal life. The tone and substance of the CM leaves a lot to be desired. This is very important. It is my duty to protect the Constitution. If he wants to use insulting language against me, he can. But he will have to.” Respond to my letters. These are the orders of the Supreme Court. I don’t think the prime minister can escape responsibility by using words like love letters,” said Purohit.
He added, “I have taken an oath. I am supposed to do my duty and I will do it. I will not stop making someone happy.”
He said that the chief minister had accused him of taking the side of Haryana on the issue of Punjab University, Chandigarh, “that I did not look for the interest of Punjab. Why did I come among? The states of the northern region have a northern district council. There, this issue has come out. There is an order given by the president. It has come out.” The issue is that the university is in financial problems.So I was asked to tell Punjab at least to give money.Now, Chief Minister says he will give any money (required).Vice chancellor of PU gave a figure.Punjab government has not paid Rs 493.19 crore to university.Government has paid 203 Just Rs 696 crore in the last five years, they had to pay Rs 696 crore in the last five years.
“I have just suggested that PU should be affiliated with three district colleges in Haryana. Where is the problem? How does he give up the right of Punjab? This is our tradition. What is the problem if we shift education to three districts in Haryana. Is it against the rights of Punjab? It was just a suggestion As a mediator. It’s unfair to blame me. I was just trying to find a solution. I was just looking for a solution that if you have to pay 40% of the money, Punjab and Haryana together can pay 20% each.”
On the prime minister’s allegation of interfering against the governor, he said, “Every time the governor says he intervenes. I challenge if he can tell me one point on which I interfere. I only say he should remove a tainted minister. There is a demand from the people. But if he has not removed him From the cabinet, what shall I do? I receive petitions from the people daily. What shall I do? I shall uphold the constitution. He may be angry with me. I do not care. If he teaches in a school, I have retired as headmaster of that school. It does not bother me. I have been an MLA, Governor of other states I know how to work
They say I chose Vice-Chancellors. They sent me a plate of three. I chose one. I thought we would set up a search committee following the UGC standards. The search committee has not been properly constituted for the selection of VC for Baba Farid University of Medical Sciences. When I received the PTU file, I saw that the commission was not up to standards. He was the chief secretary on the committee. No announcement was given. The university has been without VC for 1.5 years. If I had returned the file, there would have been no VC for two years.”
He said he had made a note about the file on the recently appointed PTU VC – “The search committee should include eminent members from higher education. But keeping in mind that the university is without much capital for two years and the future of students, I am appointing a VC. I will not allow this in the future “.
If he were to file a contempt petition, he said, “Abhi saber ka bandh tota nahi hai (I’m not out of patience yet). I have 50 years of experience in public life. I’m thick-skinned. I can’t stoop to his level (use of language). If only I wasn’t worried.” About Punjab, when I went to the border. It is my duty to go to Punjab. I did not just sit in Punjab Bhawan. I wanted to understand Punjab. I have covered all the regions. I have tried to understand the culture of Punjab. I met a delegation of professors from a university. They told me that they did not charge “They have been paid for nine months. This is why these people are affected. I will continue to visit places. They have stopped my helicopter. I will go by car. I will cover the areas on my own.”
On Wednesday, the governor also showed a video clip of his speech in Vidhan Sabha during the budget session to prove his point that he used the word “my government” several times and deleted it after the opposition wanted him to delete the word “mine”. He said he was avoiding controversy, but when the prime minister raised it, he switched to “my government” again.
[ad_2]
