Vendetta politics, says Congress of Beniwal sacking

The Congress party and its allies Thursday slammed the Narendra Modi government for sacking Mizoram Governor Kamla Beniwal, terming it a political vendetta, even as the government maintained the decision was taken in accordance with the constitution and there was "no politics in it".

A day after Beniwal, who was governor of Gujarat when Modi was chief minister, was given the sack orders, Congress leader Ajay Maken tweeted: "If Governor Kamla Beniwal was to be removed, why was she transferred to Mizoram only a few days back? #VendettaPolitics".

Beniwal, who had open run-ins with the Modi government in Gujarat, was transferred to Mizoram two months ago after the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government came to power on May 26.

Beniwal had two months left for retirement.

Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha in a tweet said: "Mr Modi's govt is unleashing vicious political vendetta on those who questioned him like sacked 87 yr old Governor Ms Kamla Beniwal. #shame"

Congress ally, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar said: "There is one Supreme Court judgment and this is a clear violation of the judgment. It is a political vendetta. It is the most unfortunate thing that a government had acted against a lady governor."

Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Naresh Agarwal said: "If they wanted then they could have waited for two months more for her to retire. This is not a good message that they are giving."

Beniwal, who was earlier the governor of Gujarat, was shifted to Mizoram July 6.

Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu denied any politics in the sacking of Beniwal.

"Action against Kamla Beniwal was taken in accordance with the constitution and there is no politics in it," Naidu told reporters outside parliament.

He also added that there were "serious allegations" against Beniwal, due to which the government took action.