UP Governor tests BJP patience, pays for crossing the line

NOV 4: Unhappy with his transfer to Himachal Pradesh, the outgoing Governor said: I was not even asked about my choice. It is not my hab...

NOV 4: Unhappy with his transfer to Himachal Pradesh, the outgoing Governor said: 8220;I was not even asked about my choice. It is not my habit to work as a rubber stamp,8221; he said. But Bhan vowed to work for Dalits wherever he is transferred.

The Dalit agenda taken up by Suraj Bhan had become a major source of embarrasment for the UP Government as he was seen as charting a political course despite holding a Constitutional position. Bhan even sought chief ministerial powers by mounting pressure on the government and had made Raj Bhawan a parallel power centre in the state.

Kalyan Singh had already stopped receiving Suraj Bhan8217;s phone calls. His successor R.P. Gupta had lodged a complaint with Vajpayee. 8220;Bhan8217;s removal was the part of the same package under which Rajnath was appointed chief minister,8221; said a state Minister.

The Governor is learnt to have told his supporters that he had 8220;become a martyr for defending the interests of Dalits8221;. Bhan8217;s behaviour had already antagonised both the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.

Suraj Bhan wrote to Gupta to set up a control room of the Home Department in the Raj Bhawan and wanted the government to report to him on law and order on a daily basis, besides the setting up of a discretionary fund for himself.

He used to express concern over Dalit schemes being run by the state government. He had refused to sign six ordinances. Instead of signing the Religious Places Bill, he had referred it to the President of India.

Immediately after taking over as Governor two years ago, Bhan restarted work on Ambedkar Park which had been initiated by Mayawati. He then started a review of law and order as well as development in various districts. He could not continue it after Kalyan complained to the Prime Minister about the presence of a 8220;second government8221; in the state.

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Bhan refused to sign two ordinances of the Excise and Industries Department last month. He advocated a review of the Ramcharitamanas

in presence of RSS chief K.S. Sudarshan since it had not done 8220;justice8221; to its Dalit characters. Sudarshan rejected the demand.

Last month, Bhan said at the Ambedkar University that Article 370 of the Constition had not been penned by Ambedkar and had been added latter. Most of the details of Section 17 about untouchability had been added.

He is learnt to have raised his Dalit Agenda at the Governors8217; meeting convened by the President, saying that Dalit welfare schemes were being ignored. The President formed a committee of Governors under Bhan8217;s chairmanship.

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He became controversial for his decisions such as granting recognition to medical, engineering and degree colleges. He would often hold back files despite the government8217;s sanction, saying he wanted to 8220;satisfy8221; himself.