BJP govt justifies removal of Mizoram governor Kamla Beniwal

Beniwal was on Wednesday, barely two months before the completion of her tenure, sacked by the union government as the Mizoram governor, triggering condemnation from the Opposition.

"Action was taken within rules, as per Constitution. There are serious allegations. The government has taken serious note of her conduct," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said.

Naidu ruled out any vendetta politics.

It has been alleged by the government that  Beniwal used state aircraft  Beechcraft  53 times to fly to  Jaipur, her hometown. She has also been linked to a land scam in Rajasthan.

Opposition slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government for the removal of Beniwal.

Congress reacted sharply with its spokesperson Manish Tewari saying that "she was first transferred in a cavalier manner to a northeastern state and then removed."

He said governors are constitutional authorities and should not be tinkered with.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar said it was an act of vendetta politics.

Former Lt. Governor of Puducherry Virendra Kataria, who was also removed earlier, said the act was one of revenge and unconstitutional.

Earlier, statement issued from Rashtrapati Bhavan late Wednesday night said: “The President has directed that Dr. (Smt.) Kamla shall cease to hold the office of the Governor of Mizoram.”

Beniwal had differences with Narendra Modi when the latter was the chief minister of Gujrat. The 87-year-old had then challenged the Modi government on the appointment of a Lokayukta or anti-corruption ombudsman.

Beniwal had been shifted from Gujarat to Mizoram a month ago.

Speaking on the issue, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said: “We have taken a decision...we will not be able to give the reason.”