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Laloo throws a fit as truths hit home: The Pioneer
Patna, Jan 27: It was a Republic Day celebration of a different kind in Bihar. Actually, a war of words between the Governor and the `Bihar Raja` marked the beginning of the 55th Republic Day celebration at the Gandhi Maidan here on Monday.
Patna, Jan 27: It was a Republic Day celebration of a different kind in Bihar. Actually, a war of words between the Governor and the 'Bihar Raja' marked the beginning of the 55th Republic Day celebration at the Gandhi Maidan here on Monday.
The ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Laloo Prasad Yadav and his Chief Minister wife Rabri Devi were taken aback when Mr M Rama Jois, the Governor, began his Republic Day speech. Mr Jois criticised the State Government for its failure on various fronts, especially in checking the law and order situation, leaving the first couple of Bihar fuming and frowning.
"The feeling of fear and terror along with sense of insecurity has gripped the people of Bihar today, and it is painful to learn that people of other states are afraid of sending their children here to participate in any function," said Mr Jois.
The Governor further said that "the greatest responsibility of the state Government is to ensure security to its people through proper law and order situation. The situation needs to be changed to establish the atmosphere of peace and security in the state again."
Drifting away from the usual course of a Governor's Republic Day address, Mr Jois said a number of constitutional provisions, meant for the moral and physical well-being of the youth of the state, were not being implemented. "Even laws as laid down by the Supreme Court are being ignored and that could come under the Article 141 of the Constitution," said Mr Jois.
As expected, a visibly perturbed RJD supremo could not restrain himself and without wasting time he hit back. At the same venue, Mr Yadav said the Governor has violated the dignity of his constitutional post.
"This is very sad and unfortunate. I know which school he belongs to. He is speaking the language of the RSS and the BJP. I and my party will go to the President to apprise him about the Governor's speech," Mr Yadav said. A fretting Mr Yadav said that Bihar has been known for maintaining communal harmony. "Without highlighting the achievements of the State Government, the Governor has chosen to make a political speech on the Republic Day. Although knowing that he has been Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani's advocate, we have accepted him as the Governor, but he has tarnished the image of the State," said Mr Yadav.
"A Governor is appointed by the President of India as it is a constitutional post. A Governor should not speak in a political language, but as the elections are round the corner, Mr Jois has preferred to forget all the norms and started pursuing the BJP's agenda," he said.
A couple of days ago, while hearing a writ petition challenging the Rabri Devi Government's recruitment drive for primary teachers, the Patna High Court had indicted the State Government, observing that the court could certify that Bihar has become a fit case for the President's Rule.
"The court is ready to certify that the state is fit for being put under President's Rule," the Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice R S Dhawan and Justice S K Singh, had observed.
While expressing serious concern over the recruitment policy of the State Government, the court had also observed that "now the Lok Sabha elections are round the corner, you have applied Chanakya's brain and advertised to recruit over 34,000 teachers without announcing any examination schedule".
The ruling party could not digest the court observations and advised some rulings for the court too. "The court should not cross its limit and should not comment in political language. It is very unfortunate," rued RJD national vice-president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh.
The political observers of the State, however, have said that now with the parliamentary elections knocking the door, the comments made by the constitutional authorities might have some hidden meaning to impose the President's Rule in the State once the Lok Sabha polls are over. According to the political grapevine, the NDA Government might be preparing the ground work for the imposition of the President's Rule in the State in case of constitutional crisis, chaos and deteriorating law and order situation. But the irony is that Bihar today needs much more than the President's Rule, they admit in the same voice.
"The feeling of fear and terror along with sense of insecurity has gripped the people of Bihar today, and it is painful to learn that people of other states are afraid of sending their children here to participate in any function," said Mr Jois.
The Governor further said that "the greatest responsibility of the state Government is to ensure security to its people through proper law and order situation. The situation needs to be changed to establish the atmosphere of peace and security in the state again."
Drifting away from the usual course of a Governor's Republic Day address, Mr Jois said a number of constitutional provisions, meant for the moral and physical well-being of the youth of the state, were not being implemented. "Even laws as laid down by the Supreme Court are being ignored and that could come under the Article 141 of the Constitution," said Mr Jois.
As expected, a visibly perturbed RJD supremo could not restrain himself and without wasting time he hit back. At the same venue, Mr Yadav said the Governor has violated the dignity of his constitutional post.
"This is very sad and unfortunate. I know which school he belongs to. He is speaking the language of the RSS and the BJP. I and my party will go to the President to apprise him about the Governor's speech," Mr Yadav said. A fretting Mr Yadav said that Bihar has been known for maintaining communal harmony. "Without highlighting the achievements of the State Government, the Governor has chosen to make a political speech on the Republic Day. Although knowing that he has been Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani's advocate, we have accepted him as the Governor, but he has tarnished the image of the State," said Mr Yadav.
"A Governor is appointed by the President of India as it is a constitutional post. A Governor should not speak in a political language, but as the elections are round the corner, Mr Jois has preferred to forget all the norms and started pursuing the BJP's agenda," he said.
A couple of days ago, while hearing a writ petition challenging the Rabri Devi Government's recruitment drive for primary teachers, the Patna High Court had indicted the State Government, observing that the court could certify that Bihar has become a fit case for the President's Rule.
"The court is ready to certify that the state is fit for being put under President's Rule," the Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice R S Dhawan and Justice S K Singh, had observed.
While expressing serious concern over the recruitment policy of the State Government, the court had also observed that "now the Lok Sabha elections are round the corner, you have applied Chanakya's brain and advertised to recruit over 34,000 teachers without announcing any examination schedule".
The ruling party could not digest the court observations and advised some rulings for the court too. "The court should not cross its limit and should not comment in political language. It is very unfortunate," rued RJD national vice-president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh.
The political observers of the State, however, have said that now with the parliamentary elections knocking the door, the comments made by the constitutional authorities might have some hidden meaning to impose the President's Rule in the State once the Lok Sabha polls are over. According to the political grapevine, the NDA Government might be preparing the ground work for the imposition of the President's Rule in the State in case of constitutional crisis, chaos and deteriorating law and order situation. But the irony is that Bihar today needs much more than the President's Rule, they admit in the same voice.