Removal of TN Governor -- Undemocratic

Date: 
Sunday, July 1, 2001

Press Statement

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India have issued the following joint statement:

Protest Removal of Tamilnadu Governor

The decision of the BJP-led government to recommend the removal of the Tamilnadu Governor, Ms. Fathima Beevi, is a totally undemocratic and unwarranted step. Everyone knows that under the Constitution where there is an elected government, as in Tamilnadu, the Governor has only a nominal role to play.

Whatever be the criticism of the manner of the arrest of the former Chief Minister Karunanidhi and the subsequent behaviour of the two Union Ministers, the Governor had not played any role in the decision-making. Such a decision was taken by the state government and executed by the concerned police authorities.

The DMK and the NDA have been demanding the removal of the Governor, ever since she appointed Ms. Jayalalitha as the Chief Minister, after her party won a decisive victory in the elections. The Governor has acted and behaved as per the Constitutional norms in the present situation.

Now utilising the situation in Tamilnadu, the Cabinet has taken a politically motivated decision to remove the Governor. The record of the BJP-led government with regard to the role of the Governors is well-known. It wants a pliable person at the Raj Bhawan in Tamilnadu, just as the role of the current Governor in Bihar when shameless efforts were made to thwart the RJD from forming the government.

The BJP and the NDA is sadly mistaken if it thinks it can get away with such trampling of Constitutional and federal norms.

The CPI(M) and the CPI strongly protest this decision of the Union Cabinet. It calls upon all democratic sections to vigorously protest against this act. It warns the Vajpayee government to desist from any further anti-democratic steps in Tamilnadu consequent to the NDA team's visit to the state.

(Prakash Karat), Member, Polit Bureau, CPI(M) (D. Raja) Secretary, National Council, CPI