Tensions between the Punjab Governor and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led government have reached new heights as Governor Banwarilal Purohit issues a stern warning to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, hinting at the potential invocation of President’s rule in the state.
The friction has been fueled by Chief Minister Mann’s alleged lack of response to official communications, prompting Governor Purohit to issue a caution that he might recommend direct central rule if his letters go unanswered.
President’s rule is implemented by invoking Article 356, which places a state under the direct control of the central government following a report from the state’s Governor.
At the core of the dispute lies concerns about drug trafficking in the border state. The Governor has raised questions about the action taken by Mann’s government to address this critical issue. Reports from various agencies have drawn attention to the widespread availability and use of narcotics, with claims that drugs are allegedly being distributed even in pharmacies and government-controlled liquor stores.
Quoting a recent parliamentary standing committee report, the Governor highlighted that one in five people in Punjab is reportedly addicted to drugs, underscoring the urgency of addressing the problem.
Governor Purohit’s latest communication to Mann reflects his growing frustration over the lack of responses. He warns of the possibility of reporting a “failure of the constitutional mechanism” to the President under Article 356 and initiating criminal proceedings under section 124 of the Indian Penal Code. Section 124 of the IPC pertains to offenses related to wrongfully restraining or assaulting the President or a governor from exercising their lawful powers.
Expressing concern over the Governor’s tone, AAP leader Malvinder Singh Kang stressed the importance of upholding decorum. He asserted that the Constitution empowers elected officials and criticized the Governor’s warnings of President’s rule as reflecting a partisan agenda. Kang alleged that the Governor’s actions align with the BJP’s strategy to undermine non-BJP state governments.
The conflict mirrors similar tensions seen in other opposition-led states such as West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, where allegations of the Governor’s interference in state government functioning have surfaced.
As the standoff between the AAP government and the Punjab Governor escalates, the prospect of President’s rule looms, raising questions about the state’s governance and the delicate balance between elected representatives and central authority.
Sources By Agencies
