New Delhi: Uproar over the appointment of a Lokayukta or ombudsman in Gujarat without the consent of the Narendra Modi-led government led to repeated adjournments in Parliament today.
The BJP wanted the Question Hour in both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha suspended for an urgent discussion on the appointment of RA Mehta as the new Lokayukta by Governor Kamla Beniwal. The ruckus led to the Lok Sabha being adjourned first till noon, then till 2pm, and then finally for the day.
Outside Parliament, senior BJP leader LK Advani led party MPs from Gujarat in protesting against the appointment of the Lokayukta by the Governor and demanded her removal for "bypassing established norms."
"We are going to meet the President on September 1 or 2 when she returns to the capital. All norms were ignored by the Governor like consultation with the Chief Minister before the appointment or taking the advice of his Cabinet on the issue. The Lokayukta was appointed by the Governor bypassing all established norms," Advani told reporters.
Asked if the BJP would demand Dr Beniwal's removal, Advani said, "Yes. We are going to meet the President over this."
On Friday, Gujarat governor Dr Kamla Beniwal appointed a retired High Court judge, RA Mehta, as the new Lokayukta or ombudsman of the state. The post had been vacant for seven years. The Governor reportedly consulted legal experts before choosing Dr Mehta. The BJP has challenged the appointment because Mr Modi and his government were not consulted. The party claims this violates Article 163 of the Constitution which states that the Governor of a state must act on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
The BJP feels this is a breach of federal principles and that the Governor is acting upon the instructions of the union government.
Mr Modi had suggested that the Lokayukta be selected by a committee that included three ministers, the Leader of the Opposition Congress party, and the state's Chief Justice. The Governor had rejected that proposal. (With PTI Inputs)
The BJP wanted the Question Hour in both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha suspended for an urgent discussion on the appointment of RA Mehta as the new Lokayukta by Governor Kamla Beniwal. The ruckus led to the Lok Sabha being adjourned first till noon, then till 2pm, and then finally for the day.
Outside Parliament, senior BJP leader LK Advani led party MPs from Gujarat in protesting against the appointment of the Lokayukta by the Governor and demanded her removal for "bypassing established norms."
"We are going to meet the President on September 1 or 2 when she returns to the capital. All norms were ignored by the Governor like consultation with the Chief Minister before the appointment or taking the advice of his Cabinet on the issue. The Lokayukta was appointed by the Governor bypassing all established norms," Advani told reporters.
Asked if the BJP would demand Dr Beniwal's removal, Advani said, "Yes. We are going to meet the President over this."
On Friday, Gujarat governor Dr Kamla Beniwal appointed a retired High Court judge, RA Mehta, as the new Lokayukta or ombudsman of the state. The post had been vacant for seven years. The Governor reportedly consulted legal experts before choosing Dr Mehta. The BJP has challenged the appointment because Mr Modi and his government were not consulted. The party claims this violates Article 163 of the Constitution which states that the Governor of a state must act on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
The BJP feels this is a breach of federal principles and that the Governor is acting upon the instructions of the union government.
Mr Modi had suggested that the Lokayukta be selected by a committee that included three ministers, the Leader of the Opposition Congress party, and the state's Chief Justice. The Governor had rejected that proposal. (With PTI Inputs)
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