Governor Tamilisai Soundarajan sounded a little cautious yet made it clear that the Telangana government should respect the Governor’s office as it was not about an individual but a Constitutional office.
She was expressing her views to the reporters in New Delhi after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday apparently to brief the recent developments in Telangana.
Ms. Soundararajn said Governor’s office should not be insulted and she leaves it to the people of Telangana to judge the government’s recent attitude towards the Governor’s office including the violation of the protocol in some instances. “If the government wants to insult the Governor, I leave it to the wisdom of people. I am a lady and a friendly Governor. I never made controversial remarks as well,” she said.
On the violation of protocols, she asked whether the Chief Secretary was not aware of the protocols. The district Collectors and Superintendents of Police also are aware of the protocols. It is about treating the Governor’s office with respect and not an individual, she argued.
Her comments gave enough credence to the speculation that the relations between the government and the Governor’s office turned sour in recent times and escalated after the Governor’s address for the budget sessions of the Assembly was ignored by the Government citing some technical reasons.
The remarks also assume significance in the light of recent developments where the protocol was violated during her visit to the Sammakka Saralakka festival in Mulugu district where none of the Ministers or the Collector or even the Superintendent of Police welcomed her, which is the general practice in any state.
Similarly, the Governor was also not invited to the inauguration of the renovated Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Yadagirigutta, now being termed Yadadri. When the Governor visited a couple of days after the temple was opened to the public the temple Executive Officer went on leave while the district Collector, SP or even the local Minister and MLA also stayed away.
On the government avoiding the Governor’s address to the Assembly to kick off the budget session, she said she could have appreciated the good decisions of the government if the report was given to her.
Ms. Soundarajan further clarified that rejection of the government’s suggestion to nominate Kaushik Reddy as the MLC under the Governor’s quota had nothing to do with politics. The nomination was rejected as he was not fit to be nominated under that quota. “I, as a Constitutional Head have to follow the law and the system,” she said.
She said her office was always open and the Chief Minister or the Ministers can come and discuss if I have pointed out some issues. She said she has been talking about good infrastructure in the government hospitals for a long adding that she was perturbed by the rats biting a patient in the ICU of the MGM Hospital in Warangal. “I am straight forward and I function with transparency. I always wish for good relations with the Government.”
On Ministers and senior government officials staying away from the Ugadi celebrations at Raj Bhavan, she said a lot of people responded to the invitation and some of those who couldn’t attend called up and informed in advance.
