Madhya Pradesh Governor Should Go
The New Indian Express, Editorial, July11/15
(Note: Probity in public life is an easy election propaganda but hard to put into practice as instances one after another like Sushma Swaraj, Vasundra Raje and now MP governor and CM loudly proclaim. Let probity be seen practiced, not preached only by leaders both religious and political. James, ed)
With the Supreme court issuing a notice to Madhya Pradesh governor Ram Naresh Yadav, a UPA government appointee, to explain why an FIR should not be filed against him, the moral and ethical ground on which his job rests has slipped from under him. The governor should without much hesitation resign from his job and hold up the high traditions and values of the governor’s office. If Mr Yadav chooses to continue in his post till the Supreme Court makes the final call in this case or till an FIR is filed against him in the Vyapam job scam case, he will be eroding the credibility of governor’s post. In such a situation, the BJP must not hesitate to ask the governor to quit. This is as good an opportunity as any for the BJP to apply the same principles when it had asked all the UPA-appointed governors to resign.
The Madhya Pradesh governor escaped the axe earlier since his son, also a suspect in the job scam case, had died in mysterious circumstances like about 30 others before him and perhaps the BJP did not want to compound his tragedy. However, the governor is no spring chicken and there is considerable national attention presently on the Madhya Pradesh government with suspects and accused and witnesses, not to count reporters investigating the scam, falling down dead. No wonder Chief Justice of India H L Dattu has reportedly commented that “not one more will die”. The BJP’s concern here is that if the governor is axed, the party will have no reason or logic to protect Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the party’s rising star who is now in his third term in office and was the chief minister when the slew of allegations began swirling.
The Supreme Court’s decision to hand over the entire case to the CBI is welcome and this itself suggests a lack of confidence in the manner the investigations have meandered along so far, even though two investigative teams have been deployed. While the Supreme Court’s activism is also welcome, we suggest that the apex court keeps close tabs on how the Central Bureau of Investigation looks into the Vyapam matter. It is disconcerting that as many as 40 may have paid with their lives. The BJP must seize the moment with both hands in order to be seen as a moral force trying to usher in acchhe din that has been promised for the people.
