What are your thoughts on the lieutenant governor’s actions?
She is like an administrator. According to the Union Territories Act and the Rules of Business of Puducherry, 1963, the administrator has to act in consultation with the council of ministers. But she does not do that. Rule 25 (of the Union Territories Act) says she has independent powers only with regard to 13 items. She has to act on the basis of these rules, but she does not do this.
But don’t you think what she did about CENTAC was only in the interest of the people?
She does not have any power to do that. It is the government of India’s health ministry which has the authority on this. She can only ask for a report, if there is any discrepancy. She is acting as an extraconstitutional authority and is like a thorn in the flesh. Whatever she wants to do must be done within the framework.
She says she does not intervene or interfere.
Almost all the legislators have experienced displeasure because of her. All of them, including opposition MLAs, wanted me to move a resolution to recall the governor in the assembly. But I refused because we have certain decorum.
But is not the lieutenant governor the final authority in a union territory?
She is acting like an agent of the BJP. The nomination of the MLAs has always been done in consultation with the chief minister.... When the United Progressive Alliance was in Delhi and NR Congress ruled the union territory, home minister P. Chidambaram refused to accept nominations without CM’s advice. But now the BJP has flouted all norms and nominated three of their MLAs. The office of the lieutenant governor is used to bend the rules, which is equal to murdering democracy.
