Former Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram. File
| Photo Credit: MURALI KUMAR Ok
Former Union Home Minister and veteran Congress chief P. Chidambaram on Friday stated that by transgressing their powers, BJP-appointed Governors had been trampling upon democracy within the nation.
Reacting to Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi’s argument that a Bill that was withheld was useless, he stated the Governor had given a unusual and peculiar definition to the withholding of assent to Bills handed by the State Legislature. “Actually, when a Governor withholds assent for no valid reason, it means ‘Parliamentary Democracy is dead’,” he tweeted.
Mr. Chidambaram defined that the Governor was sure to grant assent or withhold assent or return the Bill. “If the Bill is passed again, the Governor is obliged to grant assent,” he additional stated.
Mr. Chidambaram additionally stated the Governor was a mere Constitutional functionary. “He is the symbolic head. His powers are severely restricted. He has no powers in most matters. A Governor is bound to act on the aid and advice of the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers,” he stated.
