Governor lambasts Mann, CM says ‘not accountable’ to him

Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit and the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government seem to be heading for another set of tussle, yet again.
The Governor has again hit out at the AAP government by questioning various decisions taken by the government in the past couple of weeks, including the lack of transparency in selecting principals sent to Singapore for training.
 In a letter to the

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Purohit has questioned the appointment of a “tainted” person as chairperson of Punjab Infotech, saying he was accused in a property grabbing case and a kidnapping case.  In his reply to the Governor, CM Mann said, «All the issues flagged by you in the letter are state subjects.» I am accountable only to three crore Punjabis. I am not accountable to Governor appointed by Centre government.”  In his letter, the Governor has requested that the Chief Minister to send him the criteria and details of the entire selection process. «Please also give details if it was widely published throughout Punjab. As per news reports since the first batch has come back, please let me have details of the total expenditure incurred on travel and board, lodging, and expenses towards training,» says the letter.
 Lambasting at the CM Mann further, the Governor has said that «… in one of the letters addressed to me you had mentioned that because of the heavy mandate by the people of Punjab you are the CM, I fully agree with you on this count but you should also keep it in mind that people of the State elected you for running the administration as per the Constitution and not as per whims and fancies. As per Article 167 of the Constitution of India, you are bound to furnish me with full details and information requested by me, but you have not done so, have never cared to reply, and have treated all my queries with contempt. “To maintain cordial relations, I have not revealed these letters to the press because I thought you would fulfil the mandate of the constitution, but now it appears to me that ou have decided to ignore my letters, and I am compelled to release these letters to the press and media,” he said. The Governor has questioned the government’s silence in his letter regarding the non-disbursal of scholarships by the government and the need to remove the illegally appointed Vice Chancellor of PAU. Raising the issue of former Chandigarh SSP Kuldeep Singh Chahal, the Governor has accused the CM of choosing to ignore all misdeeds of the officer and promoting him. “You have not only promoted him but also posted him as Commissioner of Jalandhar and that too the orders being issued just before January 26, knowing very well that Governor is to unfurl the national flag at Jalandhar. I had to instruct the DGP that the officer concerned should maintain his distance during the ceremony. “On this issue, it seems that this officer was your blue-eyed boy, and you chose to ignore facts that were brought to your notice by this office,” he said. The Governor has said he had questioned the presence of Naval Aggarwal in meetings of senior officers, where sensitive and confidential matters of national security are discussed. “I have not received any reply to date. My letters asking for details of advertisements where you were asked for complete details are also perhaps lying in cold storage. There are many other points, but I have chosen to highlight five sensitive and important ones covering the safety and security of the state and country. The information about these points was asked by me besides two points already asked by me. The entire information that I have sought may at least now be furnished within a fortnight. If you fail to provide this information within the stipulated time period as already sufficient time has passed I will be compelled to take legal advice for further action, since I am duty bound to protect the Constitution,” he said.