Kerala, TN, and Telangana accuse governors of being Centre's puppets
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Hyderabad: Amid several controversies, Southern states of India have accused their governors of acting like "puppets of the Centre". The governments of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana have already announced several protests against the Centre-appointed officials.
In Kerala, Governor Arif Mohammad Khan removed two journalists from a press meeting accusing them and their channels of bias towards the CPI(M) government. The media body criticised this by calling out the "undemocratic behaviour."
On Monday, he "challenged" the Pinarayi Vijayan government to "barge into (his) office" or "attack (him) on the road" as a response to the announcement of a protest march. The state government has been alleging that the governor is delaying key legislation.
Khan had earlier issued an order demanding resignation from university Vice-Chancellors calling it a "system of oligarchy." On October 26, CPI(M) staged a protest march against him and demanded that the governor's post be abolished. The government is also considering approaching the Supreme Court over the delay or refusal to give assent to Bills.
Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK on Tuesday said Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan is "poking her nose" in the neighbouring state's politics. She said DMK's top political family has Telugu roots. DMK mouthpiece Murasoli responded by saying the Telangana governor should not interfere in Tamil Nadu's politics as it is not her job. He further said Soundararajan should honour the states and function within political and legal parametres, reported NDTV.
He added that Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi already "exceeds limits and makes remarks causing confusion." The DMK a week ago wrote a letter to like-minded MPs seeking support for a proposal to remove RN Ravi as governor for "acting against the Constitution." There are around 30 bills pending Governor's assent in Tamil Nadu including the NEET Exemption Bill.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's TRS is also criticising Soundararajan over recruitment in state universities. There are eight bills pending with her including one that will allow direct recruitment to teaching and non-teaching posts in state universities. She has refused to sign them which has spurred outrage across the state, especially among students. She has now summoned the state's Education Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy to discuss a common recruitment board for all 15 state universities in accordance with University Grants Commission rules, reported NDTV.
The Telangana governor is cross with the government for not allowing her to address the public on Republic Day and a joint session of the state assembly. The state government responded by saying the governor refused to sign a cabinet resolution appointing TRS leader Kaushik Reddy as an MLC.