‘Mind your words’ or face criminal complaint: Punjab governor to Bhagwant Mann

Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit has accused chief minister Bhagwant Mann of making derogatory references to him in the last assembly session in June.

Upping the ante in his running spat with Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, the state’s governor Banwarilal Purohit has accused him of making derogatory references to him in the last assembly session in June, and said that he would file a criminal complaint for assaulting the governor’s image against Mann if he makes similar insinuations outside the House.

Bhagwant Mann (PTI)

“You read the defamatory speech delivered by Mann in the assembly. He used derogatory language against me, saying ‘Letter likhta rehta hai’ (keeps writing letters) and called me ‘vehla’ (idle). This is not done,” Purohit said in an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times on Friday.

“The chief minister has certain legal protections in the House. Let him utter such remarks against me outside. The day he does, I will tell my office to file a criminal complaint against him and book him under Section 124 of the Indian Penal Code (assaulting the reputation of President or governor with intent to compel or restrain the exercise of any lawful power),” said Purohit in a warning tone.

The governor said, “Even an attempt to put pressure or overawe the governor makes him (Mann) liable for criminal action. Nobody can defame the governor.”

The chief minister, Purohit said, will have to be mindful of his language and can’t go on abusing me for no reason. “A governor has a lot of power,” he added.

For last one year, the AAP government and Purohit have been at the loggerheads over a raft of contentious issues, with the governor accusing Mann of not replying to his official communication seeking information on administrative matters. The latest flashpoint was the two-day special assembly session in June which passed four bills, one of them divesting the governor of powers to appoint vice-chancellors to state universities. Purohit had termed the session “patently illegal”, saying it violated the Constitutional provisions --- a stance contested by the AAP government.

Purohit charged the Mann government for violating the Section 167 of the Constitution stipulating that the chief minister is duty-bound to furnish any administrative information sought by the governor. “Even the Supreme Court in March had counselled them to respect this Constitutional provision,” he said, adding that he had written 10 to 15 letters to the chief minister but got no or incomplete response.

“They (the Mann government) are against the Constitution and get angry the moment I ask for any information,” the governor said.

Asserting that all his actions are within the confines of the Constitution, Purohit contested Mann’s statement that he is answerable only to three crore Punjabis, and not Raj Bhavan. “But he has to run the state according to the Constitution, not on his whims. “Aap badshah thodi ho (You’re not a king),” said Purohit.

Asked about his options if the Mann government continues to “deny” him information, Purohit said, “When all means are exhausted, I will do whatever needs to be done. I am now moving in that direction. I will send a detailed report to the President to do what she deems fit”.