Raising a question mark over the credibility of Md Azam Khan to be Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Governor Ram Naik said the statement of minister against Governor in Vidhan Sabha was “unparliamentary” and there was an urgent need to discuss the matter with Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
“Out of the 60 lines Md Azam spoke in the assembly against the Raj Bhawan for not giving assent to the Nagar Nigam Bill that gives power to the government to sack the mayors, 20 lines were deleted by Speaker. When 33 per cent of speech of the minister is removed from the proceedings of the House because it is unparliamentary and against grace of the House, then that person does not deserve to be Parliamentary Affairs Minister,” Governor said in a letter sent to UP Assembly Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey here on Friday.
“I will also speak to Chief minister Akhikesh Yadav on this issue,” he said without elaborating whether he wanted Azam Khan to be dropped from the Cabinet..
On March 8 last, Azam Khan made a scathing attack on the Governor for not giving assent to a Bill related to urban local bodies. Azam Khan had even termed Governor as a BJP worker who was protecting corrupt Mayors. BJP legislature party leader Suresh Khanna had termed Azam Khan’s statement as an attack on the Constitutional post. Even Speaker said that Governor was within his right to delay giving assent to Bill.
The Governor had sought the unedited copy of the speech and CD of the proceedings from the Speaker. The Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey had sent the details to Raj Bhawan on March 15.
Governor appreciated the stand taken by Speaker that day. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making it clear the power bestowed on Governor to stop any bill. You had said in the House that you will convey the feelings of Parliamentary Affairs Minister personally to me and I appreciate this. You can meet me at your convenience,” Naik said in his one page letter.
Meanwhile, ruling Samajwadi Party has refused make any comment but said that Governor should avoid making any political statement.
“The Governor’s post is Constitutional and he should provide level playing ield to all parties and should avoid making political statement,” SP general secretary and state PWD minister Shivpal Singh Yadav said.
He, however, said that he was not aware of the letter and his reaction was on the basis opf media reports.
Meanwhile, reaction from Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey and Azam Khan will come next month as they are on study tour to Australia, New Zealand and Japan for 17 days along with 19 other members.
The whole issue revolves around UP Nagar Nigam (Amendment) Bill that was passed by the state assembly on March 26, 2015 and since then it is with Governor. The Bill empowers state government with power to remove mayors besides curtailing the power of local bodies.
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