Discharging duties: Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit on border visit

Ruchika M Khanna

Chandigarh, July 26

Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit today hit out at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the latter’s barb on his tour of border districts, saying he was only fulfilling his constitutional obligations. “Why is the Chief Minister afraid of me? I only speak to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. He should tell me what’s his problem with me. If governance is not proper, I will speak out,” he said.

Purohit said he had earlier submitted his resignation because he felt that maybe CM Mann did not like him. “But it was not accepted. I hold no grudge against him… he is younger than my children. Kabhi milte hain to achhe se milte hain,” he said.

Purohit said he was only discharging his duty as the Governor of a border state. “There cannot be any deficiency in securing the borders of the state. I will continue to visit the border districts whether someone likes it or not,” he reiterated.

The Governor has just finished his three-day tour of border districts. While he was still on the tour, Mann had yesterday remarked that the Governor should inaugurate seminars rather than holding roadshows in border districts by taking half his government along with him.

The Governor said during his seven visits to border districts in the past two years, he had made tremendous achievements in setting up village defence committees in all villages located 15 km inside the International Border and ensuring coordination between all central and state security agencies.

“I also announced rewards for villages that say no to drugs and prevent its smuggling from across the border. These rewards are given from the Governor’s discretionary fund,” he said, adding that only the Chief Secretary and the DGP travel with him, though officers of the districts he visits are there during his programmes. “But perhaps this is not liked by the CM sahib”, said the Governor.

He also questioned the Chief Minister over the non- appointment of Vice Chancellors of 10 state universities, saying institutions of education could not run with adhoc Vice Chancellors.

“This is not good for the education sector. Now the highest constitutional authority in the country (referring to the President) has returned the Bill seeking to replace me as Chancellor of the universities. The UGC guidelines say that a search committee is to be formed for the appointment of VCs, which sends four names. As Chancellor, I said that I will interview all four candidates and select the best candidate. I have done same in my stints as Governor of Tamil Nadu and Assam. MK Stalin is a friend of CM sahib, he can ask him how I appointed 27 VCs. I neither recommend anyone’s name nor accept anyone’s recommendation for selections,” he said.

Asked about the Punjab Government not having prorogued the budget session in spite of the Governor’s direction, Purohit quipped: “The Supreme Court of India has already scolded me. I don’t want to get into this.”

Have 60% success rate: purohit

Reacting to the CM’s oft-repeated comment of “elected” having precedence over “selected”, the Governor said he contested eight elections and lost three. “But I still have a 60 per cent score,” he said, amidst peals of laughter.