BJP setting a wrong precedent: Governor

GANDHINAGAR, April 16: Gujarat Governor Krishna Pal Singh today accused the BJP-led Government at the Centre of setting a wrong precedent ...

GANDHINAGAR, April 16: Gujarat Governor Krishna Pal Singh today accused the BJP-led Government at the Centre of 8220;setting a wrong precedent by forcing the Governors of various States to step down before completion of the five-year term in their respective States8221;.

In an exclusive interview to The Indian Express at the Raj Bhavan here on Wednesday evening, Singh said the successive governments in the recent past did not change the Governors despite a change of guard at the Centre. But, the present Vajpayee Government has chosen to give marching orders to the Governors of various states.

8220;The BJP-led Government8217;s directive to me and other Governors to resign is not in consistent with the spirit of the Constitution which has clearly laid down that a Governor will not quit despite a change of guard at the Centre or change in the Presidentship or the Prime Ministershipquot;, the Governor contended.

Apparently stung by the Union Cabinet8217;s decision asking him to step down, Krishna Pal Singh complained notonly the former Prime Ministers, including Narasimha Rao, Deve Gowda and I K Gujral, but also personalities like Jawaharlal Nehru and Dr Ambedkar had lent a quot;dignifiedquot; status and shown great respect to the Governor8217;s post. He said the present regime8217;s decision asking the state Governors to resign from the post before completion of the five-year term would send wrong signals among believers of the Indian Constitution. Responding to a query, the Governor said Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel had never asked him to resign nor had he recommended to any one at the Centre 8220;for my resignation8221;. Singh, however, did not rule out the possibility of the 8220;hawks in the BJP8221; having insisted on his stepping down.

He pleaded ignorance when his attention was drawn to Gujarat Minister of State for Education Anandiben Patel, a close confidante of RSS leader Narendra Modi, having reportedly submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister L K Advani, during her visit to Delhi last week, demanding Singh8217;sresignation.

Singh said as soon as the BJP came to power at the Centre, he had suspected a 8220;bunch of hardliners8221; in the party might compel the Central leadership to direct him to step down.

The Governor said the Union Home Secretary had telephonically informed him, around 10.30 am on Monday, about the Cabinet8217;s decision asking him to resign. 8220;Obeying the Cabinet decision, I drafted my resignation letter immediately and sent it to the President of India through a Raj Bhavan official,8221; he said.

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Commenting on the BJP8217;s move on the ruling to abrogate the Article 356 empowering Governors to recommend President rule in States, Singh said, 8220;I strongly feel that the move must be resisted for this provision must exist to safeguard the integrity and sovereignty of India.8221; He also accused the BJP of 8220;double-speak8221; on issues like Ram temple construction, common civil code and Article 370.

Refuting the charges by both, the BJP and the Congress that he had shielded former CM Shankarsinh Vaghela during histenure as the Governor, Singh said he had always acted in an 8220;unbiased manner and discharged only constitutional obligations8221;.