Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan on Tuesday accused Governor Ram Naik of stalling several bills by not giving his assent and alleged it was giving an impression that he was working under the "influence of a party".
"A Bill (UP Nagar Nigam Amendment Bill 2015) is pending with the Governor for over one year through which Mayors could be removed for financial irregularities. The Governor has stalled the Bill giving an impression that he is working under influence of a party," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Khan said during a discussion in the Zero Hour in the State Assembly.
The Bill was not given assent so that mayors could not be punished for their "dishonesty", Khan alleged.
"If there is any problem in the Bill, it could be returned or if there is any suggestion, I could be called for a clarification on it. There should be a way out. It was not a disputed Bill. There is no intention of victimisation of any mayor through it," Khan said.
Objecting to Khan's remarks, BJP legislative party leader Suresh Kumar Khanna requested the Speaker to expunge them as it was a "direct allegation against the Governor".
However, Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey said that as per the Constitution, the Governor has the right not to give assent to any bill but he would apprise Governor Ram Naik about the minister's feelings.
On the demand of removal of Khan's comments from the proceedings, the Speaker said that he would look into it.
The controversial UP Nagar Nigam (Amendment) Bill 2015 which gives power to the state government to remove mayors besides curtailing the powers of local bodies was passed in the House last year.
The Bill provides for enhancing the financial powers of chairman of Nagarpalika and Nagar Panchayat to Rs five lakh and Rs one lakh respectively, while that of mayor has been kept at Rs 15 lakh.
It also provides for merger of UP Nagar Nigam Act 1959 and UP Nagar Palika Act 1916. It has provisions of removal of mayor of municipal corporations, and Nagarpalika and Nagar Panchayat chairman by the government.
Later, the Uttar Pradesh Mayor Council had urged the Governor not to give his approval to it.
Pending bills in Raj Bhawan included Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University (Amendment) Bill 2015 and UP Medical Science University, Saifai, Bill 2015.
According to sources, the Governor had expressed his reservation over appointment of chief secretary as the president of Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University and CM as the chancellor of Saifai Medical University.
