The Hindu : National : States must be consulted on Governors' appointment: Advani

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Tuesday, Jul 13, 2004

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States must be consulted on Governors' appointment: Advani

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 12. The Leader of the Opposition, L.K. Advani, today accused the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government of launching an assault on the multi-party system in the country and weakening federalism.

Initiating a short-duration discussion in the Lok Sabha on the issue of removal of four Governors by the Government, Mr. Advani said a Governor's ideology could not be held against him. "The doctrine of committed ideology is dangerous," he said.

Calling on the Centre to actively consult the State Governments in the appointment of Governors, Mr. Advani claimed that during his tenure as Home Minister there was not a single case where he had imposed a Governor on a State. The National Democratic Alliance Government had set a good precedent in the conduct of relations with the State Governments professing different ideologies.

The four-hour debate was on predictable lines with the ruling UPA combine supporting the Government's decision to remove the four Governors, while the NDA criticised the move.

The Samajwadi Party sought to strike a balance by attacking the Governors for misusing their office by proclaiming their loyalty to the RSS and cautioning the Congress against using the new appointments to destabilise the State Governments.

Mohd Salim of the CPI(M), Pawan Bansal (Cong), Devendra Prasad Yadav (RJD), Ramadoss (PMK), Kishore Chandra Deo (Cong) felt that the mandate was in favour of secular parties and, therefore, it was only correct that those who had their loyalties with the RSS should be asked to go. "We cannot have people in the Raj Bhavan who take their orders from Nagpur rather than from Delhi," said Mr. Salim.

Santosh Gangawar (BJP), Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa (Akali Dal) Bharat Hari Mehtab (BJD) said the Governors should have been given adequate opportunity to explain their position. The Opposition accused the Congress of reverting to its policy of destabilising Governments belonging to the Opposition parties.

Those who participated in the discussion included Ram Gopal Yadav, Ram Dass Athawale, Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMM) and Chandrakant Khaire (Shiv Sena).

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