New Delhi: The appointment of Lokayukta in Gujarat rocked Parliament on Tuesday, with an agitated BJP terming it as "undemocratic" and demanding recall of Governor Kamla Beniwal accusing her of violating the federal structure.
BJP members created uproar in both Houses over the issue. Lok Sabha failed to transact any business as it was adjourned, first till noon and then till 2 PM. Rajya Sabha saw similar scenes during Zero Hour and had to be adjourned till 2 PM.
Congress tried to counter by raising the acquittal of all 12 accused in the murder case of former Gujarat Home Minister Haren Pandya.
BJP leader LK Advani accused the Centre of deliberately targeting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP wants the governor recalled.
"We are going to approach the President seeking recall of the Governor," BJP veteran L K Advani said in the Lok Sabha amid frequent interruptions by a section of Congress MPs from Gujarat who had been finding fault with the state government.
"It has never happened in the history of India that Lokayukta is appointed without even taking a view from the chief minister," said BJP leader LK Advani in Lok Sabha.
Raising the matter, he said while the Constitution provided that the Governor would act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, it was violated in case of Gujarat as the Governor appointed the Lokayukta without consulting the Chief Minister.
"Therefore, it is a fit case to be taken up by the House. Parliament can take note of it. We will raise the matter with the President. We will seek recall (of the Governor)," Advani said.
It was similar story in the Rajya Sabha where Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley alleged that "this constitutional crisis has been created at the behest of those in power in Delhi... This Governor should not stay in office even for a minute."
"This is a constitutional crisis on appointment of Lokayukta of Gujarat. The Gujarat Governor should be recalled as he has acted unconstitutionally in appointing the Lokayukta," said Arun Jaitley.
Earlier, the BJP on Tuesday gave notices in both Houses of Parliament for suspension of Question Hour to discuss the appointment of Lokayukta in Gujarat by the Governor without the consent of the state government.
The notice for suspension of Question Hour in Lok Sabha was given to Speaker Meira Kumar by BJP member Haren Pathak while in the Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley has submitted this notice to the vice-president.
Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal had appointed R A Mehta as the Lokayukta without consulting the Narendra Modi government. BJP claims this is violation of Article 163 of the Constitution which states that the Governor should act on the
advice of the Council of Ministers.
The BJP feels this is a breach of federal principles as the Governor is allegedly acting at the behest of the UPA government at the Centre and against the state government.
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