M A I N   N E W S

Congress opposes decision
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 1
The Congress and the Left parties today opposed the Cabinet’s decision to recall the Tamil Nadu Governor, Fathima Beevi and accused the BJP-led NDA government of exploiting the opportunity to appoint a pliable Governor in her place.

Sources in the NDA said that Fathima Beevi resigned before she could be recalled. Although an official communique announcing the name of the new Governor is awaited, sources in the NDA said that Andhra Pradesh Governor C. Rangarajan is likely to be given additional charge of Tamil Nadu. The decision to remove Fathima Beevi was taken at an emergency meeting of the Union Cabinet this morning.

Congress spokesperson, Jaipal Reddy told TNS here today that the Governor as a constitutional head had no role to play in Saturday’s incident. “While we clearly disapprove the manner in which arrests of Mr Karunanidhi and others were handled by the police in Chennai yesterday, we are totally opposed to Cabinet’s decision to recall the Governor.

The Governor as a constitutional had no role to play in yesterday’s incident.”

Defending the Governor’s report which is alleged to be lacking in objectivity, Mr Reddy said, “Whatever the contents of the report how can you fault the Governor? The Governor is not supposed to submit a report to please the powers that be in Delhi.”

Mr Reddy said NDA partners had been openly unhappy with the Governor right from the day Ms Jayalalithaa was sworn in as the Chief Minister. “They were waiting for just the right opportunity. It is a case of political vendetta by the Central Government. They have also exploited this opportunity to appoint a pliable Governor in her place.”

Asked whether the situation in Tamil Nadu necessitates the imposition of President’s rule, Mr Reddy said, “The President’s rule is a hypothetical question, we don’t see any case for it. The President’s rule cannot be talked of in such lighter vein. The federal majesty does not mean the majesty of the Central Government. It means the majesty of the federal structure.

Meanwhile, the CPI and the CPM have issued a joint statement condemning the decision of the Cabinet to remove Tamil Nadu Governor Fathima Beevi.

CPI National Secretary, D. Raja told TNS that the decision was undemocratic and against the principles of federalism. “Ever since Ms Jayalalithaa was sworn as Chief Minister by the Governor, Fathima Beevi, both the state units of the DMK and the BJP had been demanding her removal.

They used yesterday’s incident as a mere pretext. It is a politically motivated move and the record of BJP on the role of Governors is well known. They want a pliable Governor in Tamil Nadu. This will be strongly resisted. We protest and have warned the Union Government not to contemplate any anti-democratic move in the state.”