NDA supports BJP on Guv

Coming out in support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), members of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) demanded immediate recall of Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal for appointing R A Mehta as the Gujarat Lokayukta without consulting the chief minister. The BJP upped the ante in Rajya Sabha to protest against the Governor’s action. Calling the appointment of Mehta as undemocratic and unconstitutional, senior BJP leaders marched to the President’s house this afternoon demanding the recall of the Governor.

However, President Pratibha Patil told them that the matter was sub-judice.

The BJP leaders believe that Mehta should not have been appointed as the Lokayukta because he is not politically detached and has been involved in criticising the policies of the Narendra Modi government.

Beniwal had appointed Mehta as the Lokayukta on August 25 without consulting the chief minister or the council of ministers.

Even after the BJP leaders were categorically told by President that the issue was sub-judice, senior leaders of the party claimed that their demand was still valid because the Union government can intervene in the matter which is sub-judice only to redeem the constitution. Senior BJP leaders L K Advani, Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj submitted a memorandum to the President.

“We most humbly urge upon your Excellency to intervene in the matter and redeem the Constitution and prevent the assault on the federal character of our polity for which it is imperative that the Governor who has failed to discharge her duties in a bipartisan manner be immediately recalled,” BJP leaders said in the memorandum.

Another senior BJP leader and legal expert, Ram Jethmalani, alleged that the Union government and the Congress Party were using unconstitutional means to destabilise the Narendra Modi-led Gujarat government because the Congress Party was scared that it would lose the elections again in the state.

“At first, Gujarat minister Amit Shah was targeted because the CBI wanted to defame Narendra Modi. The Union government is corrupt and it should not be allowed to misuse the Constitution,” said Jethmalani.