News Analysis India

Tag: Banwarilal Purohit

  • Punjab CM responds to Guv Purohit’s Prez rule threat, cites silence of his counterparts in BJP-ruled states

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday alleged that Governor Banwarilal Purohit was threatening to impose President’s rule in the state, while his counterparts in Manipur and Haryana are observing silence on the law and order situation there.

    Purohit had on Friday warned the Mann government that he could recommend President’s rule in the state and also launch criminal proceedings if his letters are not answered.

    Purohit has been accusing Mann of not responding to the letters sent to him in defiance of his authority, whereas Mann has claimed he has replied to all but seven such missives he has received.

    “The threat which the governor gave to the people of Punjab, peace loving people of the state, I will call it a threat of imposition of the President’s rule. He said I will recommend Article 356 and will recommend Governor’s rule,” Mann said at a press conference.

    He said the Punjab Governor wrote 16 letters to him, nine of which have been responded to, and the rest are awaiting details.

    The governor should not be in a hurry to write a letter and expect an immediate reply, he said.

    Mann said that while his government had been taking proactive steps to tackle the scourge of drugs, confiscating, raiding properties of smugglers, and going after gangsters with the formation of an Anti-Gangster Task Force, the governor claims law and order in the state is not good.

    “I want to ask Governor Sahab, has the Haryana Governor issued any notice to Haryana Chief Minister Khattar regarding what happened in Nuh, communal clashes and violence which took place there and curfew that had to be imposed? Did the Haryana governor write any letter to Khattar? No, because their government is also ruling at the Centre,” he said.

    He said the Punjab governor was concerned about law and order in Punjab, but never gave a statement on Manipur which is racked with ethnic violence.

    “Is the Constitution not applicable in Manipur?” In Uttar Pradesh, a murder takes place in front of journalists, “but will the UP Governor dare issue any letter to Yogi Adityanath questioning law and order” asked the CM, apparently referring to the brazen gunning down of Mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed in April this year.

    Most people would not know of their governors’ names, except those in Punjab, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, because they all are ruled by the non-BJP governments, Mann claimed.

    In his latest communication on Friday, the governor indicated he was upset over not getting any reply to his previous letters and told the Punjab chief minister that he could send a report to the President on the failure of constitutional mechanisms in the state.

    Purohit advised Mann to act before he takes his final decision under Article 356 of the Constitution and section 124 of the Indian Penal Code.

    A state is brought under direct rule of the Centre with the invocation of Article 356, usually after a report is sent by the governor. Section 124 of the IPC relates to assaulting or wrongfully restraining the President or a governor from exercising their lawful powers.

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday alleged that Governor Banwarilal Purohit was threatening to impose President’s rule in the state, while his counterparts in Manipur and Haryana are observing silence on the law and order situation there.

    Purohit had on Friday warned the Mann government that he could recommend President’s rule in the state and also launch criminal proceedings if his letters are not answered.

    Purohit has been accusing Mann of not responding to the letters sent to him in defiance of his authority, whereas Mann has claimed he has replied to all but seven such missives he has received.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    “The threat which the governor gave to the people of Punjab, peace loving people of the state, I will call it a threat of imposition of the President’s rule. He said I will recommend Article 356 and will recommend Governor’s rule,” Mann said at a press conference.

    He said the Punjab Governor wrote 16 letters to him, nine of which have been responded to, and the rest are awaiting details.

    The governor should not be in a hurry to write a letter and expect an immediate reply, he said.

    Mann said that while his government had been taking proactive steps to tackle the scourge of drugs, confiscating, raiding properties of smugglers, and going after gangsters with the formation of an Anti-Gangster Task Force, the governor claims law and order in the state is not good.

    “I want to ask Governor Sahab, has the Haryana Governor issued any notice to Haryana Chief Minister Khattar regarding what happened in Nuh, communal clashes and violence which took place there and curfew that had to be imposed? Did the Haryana governor write any letter to Khattar? No, because their government is also ruling at the Centre,” he said.

    He said the Punjab governor was concerned about law and order in Punjab, but never gave a statement on Manipur which is racked with ethnic violence.

    “Is the Constitution not applicable in Manipur?” In Uttar Pradesh, a murder takes place in front of journalists, “but will the UP Governor dare issue any letter to Yogi Adityanath questioning law and order” asked the CM, apparently referring to the brazen gunning down of Mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed in April this year.

    Most people would not know of their governors’ names, except those in Punjab, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, because they all are ruled by the non-BJP governments, Mann claimed.

    In his latest communication on Friday, the governor indicated he was upset over not getting any reply to his previous letters and told the Punjab chief minister that he could send a report to the President on the failure of constitutional mechanisms in the state.

    Purohit advised Mann to act before he takes his final decision under Article 356 of the Constitution and section 124 of the Indian Penal Code.

    A state is brought under direct rule of the Centre with the invocation of Article 356, usually after a report is sent by the governor. Section 124 of the IPC relates to assaulting or wrongfully restraining the President or a governor from exercising their lawful powers.

  • Punjab Governor Vs AAP govt: Assembly summoned on March 3, SG Tushar Mehta tells apex court

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Amid a tussle with the AAP government, Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Monday told the Supreme Court that he has summoned the Assembly for the budget session on March 3 even as the top court told both sides that constitutional discourse has to be conducted with a sense of decorum and mature statesmanship.

    The court, which was hearing the state government’s plea against the governor’s alleged “refusal” to summon the Budget session for March 3, said the Punjab government is duty-bound to furnish information as sought by the governor and at the same time the governor is also duty-bound to accept the recommendations of the Cabinet on the convening of assembly.

    The apex court said there was no occasion for the Punjab governor to seek legal advice on whether to convene a Budget session as he is bound by the aid and advice of ministers.

    A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud took note of the submission of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the governor, that the plea filed by the Punjab government does not survive in view of the governor’s decision to convene the Assembly.

    WEB SCRAWL | Raj Bhavans metamorphosing into political war rooms threatens Indian democracy

    “While this court is cognisant of free speech and expression, the constitutional discourse has to be conducted with a sense of decorum and mature statesmanship, particularly in the context of constitutional dialogue between functionaries. Political differences in a democratical polity are acceptable and have to be worked out with sobriety. Unless these principles were borne in mind, the effective implementation of constitutional values is liable to be placed in jeopardy,” the bench also comprising Justice PS Narasimha said.

    Senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for the Punjab government, alleged that the governor was hijacking the Constitution. “A constitutional authority is acting in ignorance of the Constitution. He is hijacking the Constitution,” Singhvi said.

    Mehta told the apex court that the plea filed by the Punjab government has become infructuous and will not survive. “Governor never refused and he said he is taking legal advice,” he said.

    The top court earlier in the day agreed to hear the plea of the Punjab government as Singhvi requested for urgent hearing on Tuesday itself.

    The tussle between Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had worsened last week with Purohit indicating he is in no hurry to summon the assembly’s budget session, and reminding the CM about his “derogatory” response to a letter from the Raj Bhavan.

    In that February 13 letter, the governor had asked Mann to explain the process of selecting 36 government school principals for a training seminar held recently in Singapore, and raised other issues as well.

    Mann had responded that he was only answerable to three crore Punjabis, not to a Centre-appointed governor and also questioned the Centre’s criteria for appointing governors.

    Purohit had called Mann’s replies not only “patently unconstitutional but extremely derogatory” also, saying he was compelled to take legal advice.

    Purohit’s letter to CM Mann had come two days after the Punjab Cabinet decided to call the assembly session on March 3 and requested the governor to summon the House.

    The governor had told Mann that he will take a call on summoning the budget session only after taking legal advice on the CM’s response to the issues raised by him in an earlier letter.

    “Since your tweet and letter both not only patently unconstitutional but extremely derogatory also, therefore, I am compelled to take legal advice on this issue. Only after getting legal advice, I will take a decision on your request,” said Purohit in the latest letter.

    Purohit had questioned the selection of school principals for a foreign trip for a training seminar, saying he has received complaints of “malpractices and illegalities”.

    He had also raised issues of “illegal” appointment of the Punjab Agricultural University vice-chancellor and promotion of an IPS officer who was shunted out for alleged misconduct, among others.

    Claiming that Mann “never cared to reply” to his letters in the past, Purohit had told the chief minister that people did not elect him to run the state according to his “whims and fancies” and that as per the Constitution, he is “bound to furnish” any information sought by the Raj Bhavan.

    The governor had asked the chief minister to reply to his letter within a fortnight, failing which he would seek legal advice for further action.

    Last year too, there had been a squabble between the governor and the AAP government over holding a session of the Punjab Assembly.

    The governor had withdrawn the permission to hold a special session on September 22 after seeking legal opinion when the AAP government wanted to bring a confidence motion only in the House.

    Later, the governor gave his nod only after the government provided details of the legislative business.

    In October, Governor Purohit had refused to approve the AAP government’s pick for the vice chancellor’s post at Faridkot’s Baba Farid University of Health Sciences.

    NEW DELHI: Amid a tussle with the AAP government, Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Monday told the Supreme Court that he has summoned the Assembly for the budget session on March 3 even as the top court told both sides that constitutional discourse has to be conducted with a sense of decorum and mature statesmanship.

    The court, which was hearing the state government’s plea against the governor’s alleged “refusal” to summon the Budget session for March 3, said the Punjab government is duty-bound to furnish information as sought by the governor and at the same time the governor is also duty-bound to accept the recommendations of the Cabinet on the convening of assembly.

    The apex court said there was no occasion for the Punjab governor to seek legal advice on whether to convene a Budget session as he is bound by the aid and advice of ministers.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud took note of the submission of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the governor, that the plea filed by the Punjab government does not survive in view of the governor’s decision to convene the Assembly.

    WEB SCRAWL | Raj Bhavans metamorphosing into political war rooms threatens Indian democracy

    “While this court is cognisant of free speech and expression, the constitutional discourse has to be conducted with a sense of decorum and mature statesmanship, particularly in the context of constitutional dialogue between functionaries. Political differences in a democratical polity are acceptable and have to be worked out with sobriety. Unless these principles were borne in mind, the effective implementation of constitutional values is liable to be placed in jeopardy,” the bench also comprising Justice PS Narasimha said.

    Senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for the Punjab government, alleged that the governor was hijacking the Constitution. “A constitutional authority is acting in ignorance of the Constitution. He is hijacking the Constitution,” Singhvi said.

    Mehta told the apex court that the plea filed by the Punjab government has become infructuous and will not survive. “Governor never refused and he said he is taking legal advice,” he said.

    The top court earlier in the day agreed to hear the plea of the Punjab government as Singhvi requested for urgent hearing on Tuesday itself.

    The tussle between Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had worsened last week with Purohit indicating he is in no hurry to summon the assembly’s budget session, and reminding the CM about his “derogatory” response to a letter from the Raj Bhavan.

    In that February 13 letter, the governor had asked Mann to explain the process of selecting 36 government school principals for a training seminar held recently in Singapore, and raised other issues as well.

    Mann had responded that he was only answerable to three crore Punjabis, not to a Centre-appointed governor and also questioned the Centre’s criteria for appointing governors.

    Purohit had called Mann’s replies not only “patently unconstitutional but extremely derogatory” also, saying he was compelled to take legal advice.

    Purohit’s letter to CM Mann had come two days after the Punjab Cabinet decided to call the assembly session on March 3 and requested the governor to summon the House.

    The governor had told Mann that he will take a call on summoning the budget session only after taking legal advice on the CM’s response to the issues raised by him in an earlier letter.

    “Since your tweet and letter both not only patently unconstitutional but extremely derogatory also, therefore, I am compelled to take legal advice on this issue. Only after getting legal advice, I will take a decision on your request,” said Purohit in the latest letter.

    Purohit had questioned the selection of school principals for a foreign trip for a training seminar, saying he has received complaints of “malpractices and illegalities”.

    He had also raised issues of “illegal” appointment of the Punjab Agricultural University vice-chancellor and promotion of an IPS officer who was shunted out for alleged misconduct, among others.

    Claiming that Mann “never cared to reply” to his letters in the past, Purohit had told the chief minister that people did not elect him to run the state according to his “whims and fancies” and that as per the Constitution, he is “bound to furnish” any information sought by the Raj Bhavan.

    The governor had asked the chief minister to reply to his letter within a fortnight, failing which he would seek legal advice for further action.

    Last year too, there had been a squabble between the governor and the AAP government over holding a session of the Punjab Assembly.

    The governor had withdrawn the permission to hold a special session on September 22 after seeking legal opinion when the AAP government wanted to bring a confidence motion only in the House.

    Later, the governor gave his nod only after the government provided details of the legislative business.

    In October, Governor Purohit had refused to approve the AAP government’s pick for the vice chancellor’s post at Faridkot’s Baba Farid University of Health Sciences.

  • No one gives me orders on V-C post, Governor tells CM Bhagwant Mann

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH:  The rift between Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit and CM Bhagwant Mann resurfaced on Friday over the appointment of Dr Satbir Singh Gosal as Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) at Ludhiana. Purohit said he would hold the Constitution, and that nobody could give him orders. “I will seek legal advice on the matter and act accordingly,” he said.

    The Governor said the Punjab government should learn how work should be carried out. “They (the government) should learn from me. I do not even know who is capable and who is not in Punjab. I just want to see to it that education improves. Before being appointed Punjab Governor, I was the Governor of Tamil Nadu where I was the Chancellor of 20 universities. In my tenure, I appointed 27 vice-chancellors as per law.’’

    “I was the Tamil Nadu governor for four years. The situation was very bad there. In Tamil Nadu, a vice-chancellor’s post was sold for Rs 40 to Rs 50 crore. You can ask Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin who appreciated me for cleaning up the education system there,’’ he said.

    Purohit said that he was under oath to protect the Constitution and no one could stop him from doing that. “I feel guilty if I do not do my duty. It is the responsibility of the Governor as a chancellor to guide all and look after the universities. I will do my duty come what may,” he said.

    The state government has been alleging that the Governor has been given orders by someone else.  Purohit said, “Nobody gives me orders, I am the senior-most. One can come to me for advice.’’“The Punjab government is saying the Governor is interfering in the working of universities.

    The powers to take decisions vest with Governor as a chancellor. Actually, the state government cannot interfere in the matters of universities. The government sent a letter for VC’s extension thrice. If the Governor has no role in such an appointment, then how can he have a role in giving extensions?’’ he asked. 

    ‘I cleaned up education system in Tamil Nadu’Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Friday said that in Tamil Nadu he was chancellor of 20 universities. “In my tenure, I appointed 27 vice-chancellors as per law,” said Purohit, adding “TN CM Stalin appreciated me for cleaning up the education system there.” He said the Punjab govt should learn from him.

    CHANDIGARH:  The rift between Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit and CM Bhagwant Mann resurfaced on Friday over the appointment of Dr Satbir Singh Gosal as Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) at Ludhiana. Purohit said he would hold the Constitution, and that nobody could give him orders. “I will seek legal advice on the matter and act accordingly,” he said.

    The Governor said the Punjab government should learn how work should be carried out. “They (the government) should learn from me. I do not even know who is capable and who is not in Punjab. I just want to see to it that education improves. Before being appointed Punjab Governor, I was the Governor of Tamil Nadu where I was the Chancellor of 20 universities. In my tenure, I appointed 27 vice-chancellors as per law.’’

    “I was the Tamil Nadu governor for four years. The situation was very bad there. In Tamil Nadu, a vice-chancellor’s post was sold for Rs 40 to Rs 50 crore. You can ask Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin who appreciated me for cleaning up the education system there,’’ he said.

    Purohit said that he was under oath to protect the Constitution and no one could stop him from doing that. “I feel guilty if I do not do my duty. It is the responsibility of the Governor as a chancellor to guide all and look after the universities. I will do my duty come what may,” he said.

    The state government has been alleging that the Governor has been given orders by someone else.  Purohit said, “Nobody gives me orders, I am the senior-most. One can come to me for advice.’’“The Punjab government is saying the Governor is interfering in the working of universities.

    The powers to take decisions vest with Governor as a chancellor. Actually, the state government cannot interfere in the matters of universities. The government sent a letter for VC’s extension thrice. If the Governor has no role in such an appointment, then how can he have a role in giving extensions?’’ he asked. 

    ‘I cleaned up education system in Tamil Nadu’
    Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Friday said that in Tamil Nadu he was chancellor of 20 universities. “In my tenure, I appointed 27 vice-chancellors as per law,” said Purohit, adding “TN CM Stalin appreciated me for cleaning up the education system there.” He said the Punjab govt should learn from him.

  • BJP seeks dismissal of Punjab govt for bringing confidence motion in Assembly

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH:  The BJP on Tuesday sought from Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit to dismiss the AAP government for “betraying” him with a confidence motion moved by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in the state Assembly on Tuesday.

    The party also held a mock session of the state Assembly near its office here and moved a “no-confidence motion” against the government.

    Mann on Tuesday tabled the confidence motion in the state Assembly as he targeted the BJP over its alleged “operation lotus” and the Congress for being hand-in glove with the party.

    The session of the Vidhan Sabha was convened after Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Sunday gave his nod to summon the House on September 27 after days of squabble between the Raj Bhavan and AAP government over it.

    Earlier, the Governor had withdrawn the permission to hold a special session on September 22 when the AAP government wanted to bring a confidence motion only.

    Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma sought from the Governor to dismiss the state government for moving the motion in the Assembly.

    He accused Mann of violating the Constitution and breaking the trust of people by acting at the behest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and AAP MP Raghav Chadha.

    He said the session was summoned to discuss stubble burning, GST and electricity supply but the AAP government did not hold any discussion on these issues.

    The BJP also held a mock session near a cinema close to the party office in Sector 37 here. In the mock session, party leader Sunil Jakhar even moved the “no-confidence” motion against the AAP government.

    “It is a no-confidence motion passed by people of Punjab against this AAP government,” Jakhar said.

    About AAP’s confidence motion in the Assembly, Jakhar said, “It is a fraud on the Constitution. The government took permission (from the Governor) for something else and did something else”.

    At the BJP’s “Janta di Vidhan Sabha”, six resolutions were taken up, including those related to drugs, the plight of farmers, law and order and non-fulfilment of AAP’s promise of giving Rs 1,000 per month to women.

    Many BJP leaders who took part in the mock session claimed AAP was only doing a drama of bringing confidence motion and levelling baseless allegations.

    The BJP leaders asked the AAP government why the burning issues of the state were not being resolved.

    Ajaib Singh Bhatti was made the “Speaker” of the mock session. A “resolution” was also brought to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for naming the Chandigarh airport after freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.

    CHANDIGARH:  The BJP on Tuesday sought from Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit to dismiss the AAP government for “betraying” him with a confidence motion moved by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in the state Assembly on Tuesday.

    The party also held a mock session of the state Assembly near its office here and moved a “no-confidence motion” against the government.

    Mann on Tuesday tabled the confidence motion in the state Assembly as he targeted the BJP over its alleged “operation lotus” and the Congress for being hand-in glove with the party.

    The session of the Vidhan Sabha was convened after Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Sunday gave his nod to summon the House on September 27 after days of squabble between the Raj Bhavan and AAP government over it.

    Earlier, the Governor had withdrawn the permission to hold a special session on September 22 when the AAP government wanted to bring a confidence motion only.

    Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma sought from the Governor to dismiss the state government for moving the motion in the Assembly.

    He accused Mann of violating the Constitution and breaking the trust of people by acting at the behest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and AAP MP Raghav Chadha.

    He said the session was summoned to discuss stubble burning, GST and electricity supply but the AAP government did not hold any discussion on these issues.

    The BJP also held a mock session near a cinema close to the party office in Sector 37 here. In the mock session, party leader Sunil Jakhar even moved the “no-confidence” motion against the AAP government.

    “It is a no-confidence motion passed by people of Punjab against this AAP government,” Jakhar said.

    About AAP’s confidence motion in the Assembly, Jakhar said, “It is a fraud on the Constitution. The government took permission (from the Governor) for something else and did something else”.

    At the BJP’s “Janta di Vidhan Sabha”, six resolutions were taken up, including those related to drugs, the plight of farmers, law and order and non-fulfilment of AAP’s promise of giving Rs 1,000 per month to women.

    Many BJP leaders who took part in the mock session claimed AAP was only doing a drama of bringing confidence motion and levelling baseless allegations.

    The BJP leaders asked the AAP government why the burning issues of the state were not being resolved.

    Ajaib Singh Bhatti was made the “Speaker” of the mock session. A “resolution” was also brought to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for naming the Chandigarh airport after freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.

  • AAP accuses Governor of working at behest of BJP to implement ‘Operation Lotus’ in Punjab

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH: Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government hit back at Governor Banwarilal Purohit accusing him of acting at the behest of the BJP to implement “Operation Lotus” in Punjab.

    Punjab energy minister Aman Arora also alleged that in places where BJP is not in power, governors have been assigned duties to act as the opposition and implement BJP’s agendas to prevent the ruling government from functioning. He added that the governor’s notices to the AAP government are preventing the party to function freely as per the constitution of India.

    Arora said that “in the past 75 years, no president or Governor has ever asked for the list of legislative business before calling the session. This is happening for the first time because the Punjab Governor is clearly working in cahoots with BJP and Congress to weaken the democratic system and stop the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government from working for the welfare of the common people.”

    He also pointed out that the Lieutenant Governor Delhi is preventing AAP from working in Delhi and in Punjab, BJP has assigned this job to Punjab Governor. They are afraid of the growing popularity of AAP and want to stop the party by any means from raising pro-people issues.”

    Earlier, the governor shot off a letter to Chief Minister Bhagwan Mann stating that his legal advisors were not briefing him adequately.

    The statement read, “After reading your statements, it appears to me that perhaps you are ‘too much’ angry with me. I think your legal advisors are not briefing you adequately. Perhaps your opinion about me will definitely change after reading the provisions of Articles 167 and 168 of the constitution, which I’m quoting for your ready reference.”

    “While Article 167 states that it shall be the duty of the Chief Minister of each state to communicate to the Governor all decisions of the council of ministers relating to the administration of the affairs of the state and proposals for legislation,” it stated.

    CHANDIGARH: Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government hit back at Governor Banwarilal Purohit accusing him of acting at the behest of the BJP to implement “Operation Lotus” in Punjab.

    Punjab energy minister Aman Arora also alleged that in places where BJP is not in power, governors have been assigned duties to act as the opposition and implement BJP’s agendas to prevent the ruling government from functioning. He added that the governor’s notices to the AAP government are preventing the party to function freely as per the constitution of India.

    Arora said that “in the past 75 years, no president or Governor has ever asked for the list of legislative business before calling the session. This is happening for the first time because the Punjab Governor is clearly working in cahoots with BJP and Congress to weaken the democratic system and stop the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government from working for the welfare of the common people.”

    He also pointed out that the Lieutenant Governor Delhi is preventing AAP from working in Delhi and in Punjab, BJP has assigned this job to Punjab Governor. They are afraid of the growing popularity of AAP and want to stop the party by any means from raising pro-people issues.”

    Earlier, the governor shot off a letter to Chief Minister Bhagwan Mann stating that his legal advisors were not briefing him adequately.

    The statement read, “After reading your statements, it appears to me that perhaps you are ‘too much’ angry with me. I think your legal advisors are not briefing you adequately. Perhaps your opinion about me will definitely change after reading the provisions of Articles 167 and 168 of the constitution, which I’m quoting for your ready reference.”

    “While Article 167 states that it shall be the duty of the Chief Minister of each state to communicate to the Governor all decisions of the council of ministers relating to the administration of the affairs of the state and proposals for legislation,” it stated.

  • Punjab cabinet finalised, CM Charanjit Singh Channi to meet Governor Banwarilal Purohit

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi will meet Governor Banwarilal Purohit this afternoon as the list of legislators for the new cabinet has been finalised, sources said.

    Channi is expected to meet the governor at 12:30 pm and the oath-taking ceremony for the new ministers is likely to take place Sunday, they said.

    The development comes hours after Channi returned from Delhi having held a final round of discussion with the party high command on the faces to be included in the new cabinet.

    ALSO READ | BKU thanks Punjab CM Channi for support, but says won’t share stage with political parties

    The sources said seven fresh faces are likely to find place in the Channi-led cabinet and five MLAs who were ministers in the Amarinder Singh government are likely to be dropped.

    Channi was summoned to Delhi by the Congress high command on Friday to discuss the cabinet expansion.

    The visit came within hours of him returning from the national capital.

  • Seven new faces likely in Punjab cabinet; five from Amarinder govt may not find place

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Seven new faces are likely to be inducted in the Charanjit Singh Channi-led Punjab cabinet while five ministers who were part of the Amarinder Singh-led government are expected to be dropped, sources said Saturday With the list of ministers for the new cabinet finalised, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi Saturday met Governor Banwarilal Purohit at Raj Bhavan here around 12:30 pm.

    After meeting the governor, Channi told reporters the oath-taking ceremony for the new ministers will take place at 4:30 pm on Sunday.

    His meeting with the governor came barely hours after he returned from Delhi having held a final round of discussion with the party high command on the cabinet formation.

    ALSO READ | BKU thanks Punjab CM Channi for support, but says won’t share stage with political parties

    Pargat Singh, Raj Kumar Verka, Gurkirat Singh Kotli, Sangat Singh Gilzian, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Kuljit Nagra and Rana Gurjit Singh are likely to be included in the cabinet, according to the sources.

    The party is also learnt to have decided to retain Vijay Inder Singla, Manpreet Singh Badal, Brahm Mohindra, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Arunu Chaudhary, Razia Sultana and Bharat Bhushan Ashu from the Amarinder Singh government.

    However, five legislators — Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Balbir Singh Sidhu, Gurpreet Singh Kangar and Sunder Sham Arora — who were ministers in the Amarinder Singh-led cabinet are likely to be dropped, the sources said.

    A consensus on the names for the Channi-led cabinet was reached during his meeting with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other senior party members in the national capital.

    Channi was summoned to Delhi by the Congress high command on Friday to discuss the cabinet formation.

    The visit came within hours of him returning from the national capital.

    A total of 18 MLAs can be included in the cabinet, including Chief Minister Channi and two his deputies Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and OP Soni.

  • Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit gets additional charge of Punjab, UT Chandigarh

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit has been given the additional charge of Punjab and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, according to an official statement issued on Friday.

    Earlier, V P Singh Badnore was the governor of Punjab and the administrator of Chandigarh.

    “The President of India has been pleased to appoint Purohit, the governor of Tamil Nadu, to discharge the functions of the governor of Punjab, in addition to his own duties from the date he assumes charge of the office of the governor of Punjab, until regular arrangements are made,” the statement said.

    The president has also appointed Purohit as the administrator of Chandigarh, in addition to his duties as the governor of Punjab, it added.

  • ‘Guv to decide on release of Perarivalan in four days’

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The Union government on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit would decide on State government’s recommendation for the remission of sentence of AG Perarivalan, a convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, in three to four days. Taking note of the submission by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, a bench headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao adjourned the case for four weeks.

    During an earlier hearing, the Supreme Court had expressed displeasure over the State governor for not taking any decision on the remission plea of Perarivalan for over two years. The bench had asked the State government to request Purohit to expedite his decision on the State’s recommendations for the remission of sentence of the convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

    Perarivalan had applied to the governor for pardon on December 30, 2015. Almost three years later, in September 2018, the Supreme Court asked the governor to decide the pardon plea as he deemed fit. Three days after that, on September 9, 2018, the Tamil Nadu Cabinet recommended to the governor to remit Perarivalan’s sentence and release him forthwith, but the governor is yet take a call on the same.

    Gandhi was assassinated by a LTTE suicide bomber during an election rally in Sriperumpudur in May 1991. The Bench was hearing a petition filed by Perarivalan seeking release from the prison based on the recommendation made by the TN government. Gandhi was assassinated on the night of May 21, 1991, at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu by a woman suicide bomber, identified as Dhanu, at a poll rally. On February 18, 2014, the apex court had commuted the death sentence of Perarivalan to life imprisonment on grounds of a delay of 11 years in deciding the mercy pleas by the Centre.