Thaindian News

New Delhi, Sep 2 (IANS) A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation, led by senior leader L.K. Advani, met President Pratibha Patil Friday and asked her to intervene in the issue of Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal appointing a Lokayukta without consulting the state government.

Party president Nitin Gadkari, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj were also present in the meeting.

“The notification was issued without taking any suggestions from the chief minister or state cabinet… so we came to the president and asked her to intervene and correct what was being done against the constitution,” Advani told reporters after the meeting.

He said that a memorandum has been given to the president giving the details of the issue.

“This exercise of power by the Governor is a gross violation of the Constitutional provisions and, as the facts outlined hereinafter would clearly demonstrate, has caused an irreparable damage to the federal polity of this country,” the memorandum said.

Advani said the delegation had explained to the president that “it is not a discretionary power of the governor to appoint Lokayukta, he has to do this on aide and advice of the council of ministers”.

“We expect this wrong notification, which has been issued in violation of the constitution is withdrawn and fresh appointment according to constitution will be done,? he said.

The president, he added, asked if the matter was subjudice. The party replied in the affirmative and asked her to intervene so that the issue could be sorted out without going to court.

“Arunji (Jaitley) said we have come to you so that the issue can be sorted out without the intervention of the court. If the central government intervenes and the notification is cancelled, the issue will be sorted out,” Advani said.

?When I heard her question, I was reminded of many questions asked in parliament replying to which ministers say this is not a question, this is a suggestion,? he added.

The BJP, which is the ruling party in Gujarat, has been upset over the controversial appointment of the Lokayukta in the state by the governor, bypassing the state government.

Both houses of parliament were disrupted on the issue Friday.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi also wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday.

Beniwal last week appointed retired high court judge R.A. Mehta as the state Lokayukta. The Gujarat government has challenged the decision in the high court. The post was lying vacant for the past seven years.

Another delegation from Madhya Pradesh also met the president to discuss some pending legislations which are with the president for her signature.

Sushma Swaraj said that the legislations included an anti-terrorism legislation on the lines of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), and a legislation to ban cow slaughter.

?The president said the bills had gone to the home ministry. As soon as they are sent back from the home ministry, she will consider them,? she said.