Nothing wrong in governor meeting officials: TN minister

Senior Tamil Nadu minister Dindigul Srinivasan today brushed aside the opposition parties' criticism of Governor Banwarilal Purohit's meeting with government officials here, saying there was nothing wrong in it.

"There is nothing wrong if the governor meets government officials. He (Purohit) had had such meetings in other states also where he served as governor earlier," he told reporters here.

Srinivasan was responding to a question on the allegation levelled by the DMK and other opposition parties that such meetings amounted to interference in the state's autonomy.

"There is no issue (with the governor meeting the officials)...take it easy," he said to persistent queries on the matter.
 

Referring to Purohit's remarks that he would visit all the districts of the state, the minister said he would welcome it.

A political row had erupted yesterday over the governor meeting government officials here on November 14, with the DMK and other opposition parties claiming that it amounted to interference in the state's rights.

State Higher Education Minister K P Anbalagan and Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani, who had met the governor during his visit here, have already said that such meetings do not affect the state's autonomy.

Meanwhile, PMK youth wing president Anbumani Ramadoss told reporters at the airport here that a district-wise review by a governor was against "democratic traditions".

Referring to a memorandum submitted by the PMK to the then governor K Rosaiah on alleged corruption in certain government departments, he said there was no response to it so far and Purohit should take action on it.