New Delhi: The Central government of NDA had given the reason of removal of Kamla Beniwal on Thursday. It had given two reasons. The first being that she had cost the Gujarat government Rs. 1,216 crore in central funds by sitting on a crucial bill during her time in the state’s Raj Bhavan.
The second reason, it stated, was her “unethical involvement” in the affairs of a cooperative society in Jaipur — cited in a June 27 report from the Rajasthan government.
The 87-year-old Beniwal was sacked on Wednesday, just a month after she was transferred to Mizoram from Gujarat.
The Opposition, including the Congress and NCP, termed her removal an act of “political vendetta” stemming from her running feud with Modi when he was chief minister of the western state.
But the government claimed there were serious allegations against Beniwal and the act of removing her was in accordance with the Constitution.
These two reasons had been put before President Pranab Mukherjee while making a case for her removal. In addition, the home ministry recalled strictures passed by the Supreme Court against Beniwal for alleged misuse of office in 1997, when she was urban development minister in Rajasthan.
Beniwal’s removal was sought on the basis of a July 31 letter from Gujarat chief secretary Varesh Sinha to the home ministry, accusing her of causing financial losses to the state due to her delayed assent to an amendment in the Lokayukta Act, said sources.
They added that the President had taken a final decision after seeking the attorney general’s opinion.
The state told the Centre that to get central grants for panchayati raj institutions and urban local bodies, the state must notify a legislation to bring elected representatives of such institutions under the lokayukta. But because of Beniwal’s delayed actions, the state had lost grants to the tune of Rs. 1,216 crore.
The home ministry also said Beniwal’s “unethical involvement” in the affairs of the Kisan Samuhik Krishi Cooperative Society Limited in Jaipur had invited criticism and lowered the dignity of the high office she held. It said Beniwal had been a member of the society, even participating in its meeting, while she was Gujarat governor.
Bureau Report
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