Governor threatens CM Mann of legal action for using ‘derogatory’ language against him

Replying to a question on what action could he take, he said, “I have a battery of lawyers. If he says something, I will take legal opinion from them on what action can be taken.”

He said, “I am a Governor. I cannot stoop to his level (in using language). I have to maintain the dignity of Raj Bhawan. Now you are the best judge. I don’t want to say anything.”

On his letters raising questions, Purohit said he was upset with the word “love letter” used by the CM.

He said that the CM’s post has a dignity. It should be maintained. “I saw on TV and read newspapers, he made fun of me in the Vidhan Sabha. He used the word ‘love letter’ for writing to him raising questions on official matters. This word was used for a governor. These are the orders of the Supreme Court. He only had gone to the Supreme Court.”

The Governor also said that he would get the sanctity of the two-day special session of the assembly that concluded on Tuesday checked. “I will get this checked whether this was an extended session of the Budget as they had not got the session prorogued. It was only adjourned. Then they neither sent the agenda to me nor the Speaker till the eleventh hour. I will get it checked if they can carry out legislative business in this extended session or not. If this was the extended session then they could have carried out discussion related to Budget only,” he said, questioning the sanctity of the special session.

In the same way, he said he would do it for the four important Bills passed by the assembly on Tuesday including freeing Gurbani from the monopoly of one channel, removing Governor as Chancellor of Punjab universities and appointing the DGP on its own. He said he will check whether these Bills are constitutional or not.

“Whether I remain Chancellor or not, it is immaterial. I am the Governor. When I get the Bill, I will examine it according to the Constitution. If it is correct as per the Constitution then it is fine. Otherwise I will see what is to be done. Otherwise I will reject the Bills,” Purohit said.

The day after the CM said the Governor used the state’s chopper, Purohit declared that he would not use the state helicopter from now on and travel in his car only. “I am conservative. I am the Governor. Still, I do not spend much. Ask these secretaries. When they travel they are allowed in business class. I have travelled in economy class ever since I became the Governor. What blame they are putting on me? – That they gave me the helicopter. If they sent me to border in helicopter – does that mean I should clap for them? Is the Governor so cheap? If they have given me the helicopter to go to the border, what’s the big deal? I have never used the helicopter for my personal visits. Now, I declare that I will not use the helicopter of Punjab government. I lead a simple life. I will manage. I hardly used it 3-4 times. Now, I will not take your (government’s) helicopter. ‘Mukhya Mantri ji aap khush rahiye’ (Honourable CM, you please remain happy). I cannot even imagine that a CM can talk like that about a Governor,” Purohit said.

On SIT giving a clean chit to Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, he said he will get a legal opinion and then act on it.

On the CM not replying to his letters, he said the CM and the Governor are constitutional functionaries who have specified roles and responsibilities. The Governor has the right to seek information from the CM under Section 167 B on the matter relating to administration of the affairs of the state and purposeful legislation. If the CM does not give the information then it is dereliction of duty, he added.

“The CM is duty bound to furnish this. I asked information about this only and not about his personal life. The tone and tenor of the CM leaves much to be desired. This is a serious matter. It is my duty to protect the Constitution. If he wants to use even more derogatory language against me, he can. But he will have to give a reply to my letters. These are the orders of the Supreme Court. I do not think the CM can escape responsibility by using words like love letters,” Purohit said.

He added, “I have taken oath. I am supposed to perform my duty and I will perform it. I will not stop to make someone happy.”

He said the CM accused him of siding with Haryana on the issue of Panjab University, Chandigarh, “that I did not look for the interest of Punjab. Why did I come in between? The north zone states have a north zone council. There, this issue came up. There an order was issued by the chair. The issue came up that the university is in financial trouble. So I was asked to tell Punjab to at least give the funds. Now, the CM is saying he will give whatever funds (required). Vice-Chancellor of PU has given a figure. The Punjab government has not paid Rs 493.19 crore to the university. The government has paid only Rs 203 crore in the last five years. They had to pay Rs 696 crore in the last five years.

“I had just suggested that PU should affiliate colleges from three districts of Haryana. Where is the problem? How is it giving away the right of Punjab? This is our tradition. What is the problem if we impart education to three districts of 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 at a solution that if you have to pay 40% funds, then Punjab and Haryana can together pay 20% each.”

On the CM’s allegation of interference against the Governor, he said, “Every time he says the Governor is interfering. I challenge if he can tell me a single point that I am interfering. I am only saying he should remove a tainted minister. There is a demand from the people. But if he has not removed him from the Cabinet, what have I done? I get petitions from people daily. What do I do? I will preserve the Constitution. He may get angry at me. I do not care. If he is studying in a school, then I have retired as the 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 have chosen Vice-Chancellors. They sent me a panel of three. I chose one. I thought we will make a search committee by following UGC norms. The search committee was not properly formed to choose V-C of Baba Farid University of Medical Sciences. When the PTU file came to me, I saw the committee was not as per the norms. The chief secretary was in the committee. No advertisement was given. The university had been without a V-C for 1.5 years. Had I returned the file then there would not be any V-C for two years.”

He said he made a note on the file pertaining to PTU V-C appointed recently – “The search committee has to have members of eminence from higher education. But keeping in view that the university is without a V-C for two years and future of students, I am appointing the V-C. In future I will not allow this.”

Whether he will file a contempt petition, he said, “Abhi sabr ka baandh toota nahi hai (yet to lose my patience). I have 50 years experience of public life. I am thick skinned. I cannot stoop to his level (use of language). If I had not worried about Punjab, I would not have gone to the border. It is my duty to go to Punjab. I have not just sat in the Punjab Bhawan. I wanted to understand Punjab. I have covered all districts. I have tried to understand the culture of Punjab. I met a delegation of professors from a university. They told me they had not got salaries for nine months. That is why these people are affected. I will keep visiting the 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 of his address in the Vidhan Sabha during the Budget session to prove his point that he had used the word “my government” several times and had omitted it after the Opposition wanted him to omit the word “my”. He said he was avoiding controversy, but when the CM raised it, he switched to “my government” again.