DMK condemns Raj Bahvan's imprisonment warning, vows to protect TN's autonomy

Condemning the Raj Bhavan for citing a legal provision for imprisonment against any attempt to 'restrain' the governor from exercising his power, the DMK has asserted that it would continue to fight to protect Tamil Nadu's autonomy.

Accusing Governor Banwarilal Purohit of indulging in "direct politics", DMK Working President M K Stalin said his party would not be cowed down by such threats (to invoke IPC section 124) by the Raj Bhavan in its statement yesterday.

"I strongly condemn the Raj Bhavan statement and the Governor for trying to do direct politics on behalf of the DMK. The party will not run away from the responsibility and will not be cowed down by such empty threats," Stalin said in a statement last night.

His reaction came hours after the Raj Bhavan issued a strongly worded statement taking exception to the DMK's continuing protests against Purohit's district visits and the party's 'siege Raj Bhavan' stir on Saturday.

The Raj Bhavan had said the governor enjoys "unhindered freedom" to interact with officials and cited a legal provision providing seven years imprisonment to those "restraining" him from exercising in any manner any of the lawful powers.

It had also cited section 124 of IPC, which said "whoever with the intention of inducing or compelling the President of India, or the Governor of any state... shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years."
Claiming that governors in Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal did not conduct such review meetings, Stalin said, "Since the Governor is a representative of the ruling BJP, he is playing the role of the Tamil Nadu BJP president."
Ever since Purohit assumed office last year, he has been touring districts, for which he faced flak from the principal opposition party the DMK, which alleged he was holding review meetings 'like a chief minister.'