CALCUTTA: The West Bengal Speaker, Mr. Hasim Abdul Halim said here on Tuesday that the attempt of physical assault on the Governor Prof Sayed Nurul Hasan by Congress (I) legislators at the Assembly on Monday had the “sanction” of the center.

Mr. Halim said the way the Governor had been transferred and the behavior of the Congress (1) MLA’s clearly implied the Centre’s hand. “The whole thing was planned to embarrass him (Governor) because he did not listen to views of certain Congress (I) leaders. It is also a signal to Governors in opposition ruled States.

Talking to reporters, Mr. Halim said that the shabby treatment of the Governor was at the direction of the center was clear from the way it made sure that Prof Hasan and not his successor Mr. T.V. Rajeshwar addressed the Budget session. “What barred the Centre from seeing that Mr. Rajeshwar addressed the house?” Describing Prof Hassan as the pride of the country Mr. Halim said his sudden removal and the way all Congress (1) MLAs abused him all linked up to sanction of the Centre.

Asked to comment on the union minister Mr. Priya Ranjan Das Munshi’s remark that the speaker could have asked the erring MLAs to vacate the House an angry Mr. Halim retorted, “He is making a mistake. I am really sorry to say that he does not understand anything about parliamentary democracy. When the Governor addresses the House it belongs to him and the Speaker can make no ruling.” He said Prof Hasan could have asked his security men to throw out the concerned members as had been done in Rajasthan but he had refrained from doing so. Mr, Halim pointed out that the Governor had come to address the House to fulfill his constitutional duty and his statement was not his own but that of the State Government. He said there were several ways in which the opposition could express their protest democratically, “but you cannot physically assault him or put mental pressure on him.” Questioned if the Governor could lodge a complaint with the President, Mr. Halim replied in the affirmative but said it was up to Prof. Hasan.

The Speaker said the State Government had taken the incident very seriously and has asked the secretary of the Assembly to submit a total report. West Bengal, he pointed out had a tradition.

Mr. Sattar said the way the CPI (M) was unnecessarily raising the issue of the transfer of the Governor was nothing but an attempt to cover the corruption of the Left Front and the Bengal Lamp and Calcutta Tramways Corporation controversies.

BASU’S PLEA

Meanwhile at the Left Front legislature meeting, the Chief Minister Mr. Jyoti Basu, asked the ruling party MLAs to exercise the restraint and not to get provoked by the Congress (I). He said it was natural for the Congress (I) to attempt to disturb the house but the ruling party MLA’s should maintain discipline.

Article extracted from this publication >>  March 17, 1989