A day after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann took unparliamentary and insulting potshots at his opponents and even the State Governor Banwarilal Purohit on the concluding day of Vidhan Sabha’s two-day special session, the state’s constitutional head on Wednesday lashed out the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader for passing “derogatory” remarks against him.
Visibly irate over Mann’s remarks against the Governor, Purohit called a press conference to retort to Chief Minister’s acquisitions and gibes while condemning the manner in which the Chief Minister ridiculed the office of the Governor — sending out a clear-cut message that he was in no mood to take it lying down.
Mincing no words, Governor asserted that the Chief Minister chose to ignore his request to remove a “tainted” Minister from his Cabinet, besides refusing to provide him information sought on important matters related to the State while dubbing his official letters as “love letters”.
“The position of the Governor is enshrined in the Constitution and its dignity has to be maintained at any cost,” he asserted.
Purohit’s reaction came in response to Mann’s allegations that the state Governor was often seen on the other side instead of securing Punjab’s interests. He even quipped that the Central Government has appointed a person in the non-BJP ruled states to trouble the State Governments, including Punjab and Delhi, known as Rajpal or Governor.
In fact, the Vidhan Sabha, had also passed a resolution against the Centre condemning it for not releasing the RDF besides passing the four bills, including the one divesting the Governor from the charge of Chancellor of the state-run universities, and handing over the same to the Chief Minister.
While participating in debates on Bills and also the resolution, Mann indulged in multiple monologues in the absence of the main opposition Congress, went all out to crack jokes against his opponents, using unparliamentary language.
He even did not spare the Governor, took a dig at him for using state helicopter and then finding faults with him. That was not all! Mann even displayed a file containing several letters written by the Governor to him, while referring to them as “love letters”.
“He takes my helicopter, a government helicopter, and then abuses me...I don't think so much interference is needed. His duty is to administer an oath... It does not mean he will create trouble for every small thing,” Mann had said a day before.
Annoyed, Purohit declared that he would not use the State Government’s helicopter anymore till the time he is in Punjab. At the same time, he made it clear that he would get all the four Bills examined first. “I will get those examined constitutionally. If these are not as per the Constitution, I will reject them,” he said.
“What do they expect? Should I clap for them? Is this what they expect?...Touring border areas is my official duty. The Chief Secretary and DGP have also travelled in that chopper. Is it something to say he gave his helicopter for me to travel ...?” Purohit said in disgust, adding that he would not use the Punjab Government helicopter till he is in Punjab.
“Unlike several Punjab officers, I did not travel in the business class during a flight. Instead I choose the economy class to travel. My lifestyle is very simple. I have used the helicopter not more than three-four times and that too when I had to travel to the border. The Chief Secretary and the DGP also travelled with me. If that is to be used against me as if it is a bribe which was offered by the CM so that I don’t question him about the working of his Government, then let me declare that from now onwards, I will not use the government helicopter,” he added.
Coming down heavily on Mann, Purohit said: “Mann chose to speak in a derogatory manner against the Governor using the protection of the Vidhan Sabha. Had he used the same kind of language outside the Vidhan Sabha, I would have ensured that the matter is taken to its logical conclusion.”
Purohit maintained that he was wrongly accused of trying to interfere in the working of the Chief Minister. “Every day, I receive over 200 representations of various kinds from the people seeking action. On the basis of one such representation, we found that one of the Ministers in the Cabinet is tainted and we asked the Chief Minister to remove the Minister but he has refused to do so. It is up to him. But let me tell you because of that Minister, the Government has become a laughing stock,” he said.
The Governor was referring to the Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira’s complaint of alleged “sexual misconduct” against Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak.
Also taking exception to Mann calling his official letters to him “love letters”, Purohit said: “I have to maintain the Raj Bhavan's dignity…That is why this one sided affair is going on…I saw on TV and also read in the newspapers that he made fun of me in the Vidhan Sabha. And he used the word that the Governor is writing many love letters to him.”
“A ‘Chief Minister’ is using such words for me. Whereas there is Supreme Court order that the Chief Minister is duty bound to furnish information which has been sought…I don't think the Chief Minister can escape from giving a reply just by using derogatory language,” he said, adding that he was “performing my duty, whether somebody is happy or not. I am supposed to perform my duty and I will perform”.
A day before, Mann quipped that the Centre, to fulfill its nefarious designs in the state and trouble the State Governments, has appointed a person known as ‘Rajpal’ or the Governor. “Their only job is to trouble or harass the state governments from doing their work. The post of Governor has its traces in the British regime and still these selected ones live with the same pomp and show as their predecessors did. As a fact of matter, these Raj Bhawans have now emerged as the state headquarters of BJP to interfere in the matters of the State Government,” he had said.
“These ‘selected ones’ are unnecessarily peeping in the work of the elected ones. And if the Governors don’t interfere in the affairs of the states, the Centre rebukes them for why they are sitting idle in the offices,” Mann had said while showing a file containing several letters written by the Governor to him.
“These are ‘love letters’ written to me by the Governor…We have replied to some of them, and sometimes we wait for spare time to answer them,” Mann had said, while reminding the Governor that it was his duty to recommend Punjab’s case before the Centre, instead of writing these letters.
“But he does the reverse. He speaks from the Haryana side. I asked him the other day (during a meeting to discuss affiliation of colleges to Panjab University) if he has come from Haryana,” the Chief Minister quipped.