MP CM’s new letter softens tone, hardens stand
Bhopal, March 17 (IANS) After his government survived for another day, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath continued his correspondence with governor Lalji Tandon on Tuesday with a conciliatory note without yielding any ground.
The letter gives a glimpse of the ruling party’s strategy to deal with the new situation where the MLAs, holed up in Bengaluru, were shown addressing the media and complaining about the partisan and arrogant attitude of the chief minister.
MLA after MLA including former ministers have been shown lambasting Kamal Nath for fostering nepotism and spending all development funds on Chhindwara.
His letter in Hindi roughly translated in English said, “I have pursued a 40-year political career with restraint and due respect for others. I am sad that you have, in your letter dated March 16, accused me of not keeping up parliamentary propriety. I regret if you have been offended for any reason. You did mention the adjournment of the House till March 26 without finding it proper to mention the reasons for it. As you know our country and indeed the entire world is facing the threat through coronavirus and the World Health Organisation has declared it a pandemic. The government of India has issued an advisory against large congregations or crowding in public places. This was the reason the Speaker adjourned the House till March 26,2020, 11 a.m.”
He further said, “You have expressed regret that I avoided undergoing the floor test in the timeframe you prescribed. I wish to bring to your notice the fact that I have proved my government’s majority many times during the past 15 months. If the BJP is accusing me of having lost majority, it can seek a floor test through a no-confidence motion in the House. As per my information they have already moved a no-confidence motion that is pending with the Speaker. If the Hon’ble Speaker acts on the motion as per the Vidhan Sabha rules it will establish our majority. I have, through frequent personal meetings and letters, been acquainting you with the extra-ordinary situation arising out of BJP flying 16 of our MLAs to Bengaluru and keeping them in a resort with the help of Karnataka police like hostages. They are not being allowed to meet or talk with others. They are being prevented from returning to Bhopal while BJP leaders are meeting them, offering allurements and subjecting them to pressure, fear and forcing them to make false statements before the media. As an evidence a complaint from the brother of one of them, Manoj Choudhary, is enclosed.”
“I wish to assure you again, let the 16 Congress members be free in an open atmosphere for five to seven days. They would take independent decisions. Your assumption that unless I prove my majority on the floor of the House on March 17, I will be deemed to have lost majority will be unconstitutional, being baseless,” the CM’s letter further said.
“I also learn that the BJP leaders have filed a petition in the court. In the light of these facts I have forwarded your directives to the Hon’ble Speaker for appropriate action. I am also marking a copy of this letter to him,” Nath wrote in the letter.
–IANS
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