Taking strong exceptions to the criticism of Raj Bhawan by Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs minister Mohd Azam Khan in the Vidhan Sabha for not approving a Bill, Governor Ram Naik has sought the `unedited’ copy of the proceedings of the House from Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey.
In a letter to the speaker, Naik has sought the unedited audio/ video footage along with the written proceedings of the House where Khan had criticised Governor for not approving the Nagar Nigam Bills. A statement issued by Raj Bhawan said on Wednesday that the letter has been sent to the Speaker of the Assembly asking for the details at the earliest. The letter further said that the details should accompany the statements made by other members during that discussion. Khan had questioned Raj Bhawan for delaying in giving assent to a Bill related to urban local bodies. “It is very unfortunate that the Governor is sitting tight on the Bill passed by the House almost year and a half back. It seems that the Raj Bhawan is trying to protect the illegal acts of the Mayors and was favouring a particular political outfit,” Khan had said in Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday.
Khan said if there were irregularities in the Bill, the Governor should have returned it or sought clarification. “But by sitting on the Bill, the Constitutional head of the state is not doing justice. Instead he is promoting illegal acts of the Mayors,” the minister had said.
BJP lawmakers had protested pointing out that an issue pertaining to the Governor can not be raised in the Assembly.
Reacting to the minister grouse, Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey had said he would personally convey his feelings to the Governor and assured BJP members of looking into the statement and expunge the parts which were unconstitutional. UP Nagar Nigam (Amendment) Bill was passed by the state assembly on March 26, 2015 amid BJP allegations that it was a direct assault on the powers of elected mayors. Nine of the 14 Mayors in Municipal Corporations across UP are from BJP.