New Delhi, May 21: Leader of Opposition (LOP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has sharply criticized the BJP-led NDA government for allegedly "misusing" Governors to silence states' voices and disrupt the functioning of elected state governments.
Gandhi emphasized that India’s strength lies in its diversity and unity, warning that any attempt to undermine this through central control is a dangerous assault on federalism.
In a post on X, Gandhi shared his concerns, stating, "India's strength lies in its diversity -- a Union of States, each with its own voice. The Modi government is misusing Governors to stifle those voices and obstruct elected state governments."
He described this action as a direct challenge to the principles of federalism and called for resistance to such measures. Gandhi's post was a response to comments by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
Stalin had earlier condemned the Union Government’s Presidential reference, claiming that it sought to subvert constitutional principles already established by the Supreme Court in the Tamil Nadu Governor's case. He argued that the move was a clear attempt to have the Tamil Nadu Governor act at the BJP's behest to undermine the people's mandate.
"This attempt is a desperate effort to weaken democratically elected state governments by putting them under the control of Governors, who are effectively acting as agents of the Union Government," Stalin said. He also pointed out that this directly challenges the authority of the Supreme Court as the final interpreter of the Constitution.
Stalin questioned why there should be any objection to setting time limits for Governors to act, asking whether the BJP was trying to legitimize indefinite delays in approving state bills. He also expressed concern that such actions could paralyze non-BJP state legislatures.
The Tamil Nadu CM further warned that the nation is at a critical juncture, where the BJP-led government’s actions threaten to distort the basic distribution of powers within the Constitution, effectively incapacitating opposition-led state governments. He called on all non-BJP states and party leaders to unite in a legal struggle to protect the Constitution.
This controversy follows a recent Supreme Court verdict, which imposed deadlines on the Governor and President for deciding on state bills in the Tamil Nadu government versus Governor case. President Droupadi Murmu, however, questioned the validity of the ruling, emphasizing that the Constitution does not specify time limits for such decisions.
