After requesting the resignation of nine vice chancellors, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan wants Prime Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to take action against State Finance Minister KN Balagopal. The governor has written a letter to CM informing him that Balagopal is “no longer enjoying fun” after allegedly making a “shattering” remark during his speech at the University of Kerala.
The governor accused Balagopal of making a speech that undermined unity, and urged the CM to take constitutionally appropriate measures against his cabinet colleague, a demand the latter rejected.
In his letter to the CM, the governor claimed that Balagopal gave a speech here on October 18 on a university campus, in an attempt to fan the fires of regionalism and provincialism and undermine the unity of India, and he had no choice but that to transfer. the finance minister has “not enjoyed my pleasure anymore”.
The governor, citing a newspaper report, said Balagopal said during the post at the University of Kerala that “those who come from places like Uttar Pradesh may find it difficult to understand universities in Kerala”.
Balagopal, a former Rajya Sabha MP, reportedly continued: “Guardians of the Vice Chancellor of Banaras University had shot five students. Then I was MP and had gone there. The Vice Chancellor had 50 to 100 guards. This is the situation in many universities there”.
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Posing Balagopal’s reported statements is nothing short of a violation of the oath he made to him, Khan ordered Vijayan to take action that was constitutionally appropriate.
In his letter, the governor did not explicitly request the removal/withdrawal of Balagopal from the LDF cabinet, but it seemed to be the essence of his communication to Vijayan.
The governor quoted the newspaper reports of October 19, claiming that the comments made by Balagopal and the State Minister of Higher Education, R Bindu, at a meeting hosted at Kerala University’s Karyavattom campus “clearly aimed at tarnishing the image of the Governor and lowering the dignified tenure of the Governor”.
“But most troubling were the Treasury Secretary’s comments that seek to fuel the fires of regionalism and provincialism and, if allowed unchecked, could have an eroding and pernicious impact on our national unity and integrity,” the governor said. in the letter. .
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The governor said: “The aforementioned comments from the finance minister try to throw a wedge between Kerala and other states of the Indian Union and create a false impression that different states of India have different systems of higher education”. Khan claimed that Balagopal’s reported statements are nothing short of a violation of the oath he took to him.
“A minister who willfully violates the oath and undermines the unity and integrity of India cannot continue to enjoy my pleasure. In these circumstances, I have no choice but to indicate that Balagopal is no longer enjoying my pleasure,” the governor said, expressing the hope that the Chief Minister “will seriously consider the matter it deserves and take action that is constitutionally appropriate.” is”.
Khan also claimed that Balagopal’s claims have no basis as higher education in all states of India is subject to UGC regulation, which not only issues guidelines to regulate the affairs of the universities but also provides significant financial support. The laws/statutes of Indian universities are more or less the same and the universities of Kerala have had vice chancellors from out of state.
Our universities’ NAAC rating is also reviewed and awarded by non-Keralite Peer Teams, the governor said in his letter to the CM. Khan said the Treasury Secretary’s comments pose a challenge not only to national unity and integrity, but also to the Constitutional Convention that requires the governor of every state to come from outside the state.
He stated that Balagopal also seems blissfully ignorant that Banaras Hindu University is a Central University and not under the administrative control of the government of Uttar Pradesh.
CM reiterates confidence in FM
The Chief Minister has returned a letter to the governor rejecting his demand to take action against Balagopal, an official source told PTI.
A high-ranking source said Vijayan said in his response that from a constitutional perspective and taking into account the country’s democratic conventions and traditions, the statement cannot justify ceasing the governor’s enjoyment.
The governor will understand that no further action is required in this matter, Vijayan said, according to the source.
This is the governor’s first move after Raj Bhavan PRO tweeted on October 17 that the prime minister and the council of ministers have the right to advise the governor, but statements by individual ministers that affect the dignity of the governor’s office, may invite action including “withdrawal of pleasure.”
— With input of PTI.
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