New Delhi, March 17: The Congress today demanded the dismissal of Goa governor Mridula Sinha, accusing her of the "constitutional impropriety" of consulting Union finance minister Arun Jaitley before inviting the BJP to form the government in the state.
It also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to punish Jaitley for allegedly advising the governor.
Despite the Congress being the largest party in Goa's hung Assembly, Sinha had asked the BJP to form the government after it handed her signatures of support from smaller parties and Independents.
Congress members created an uproar in the Rajya Sabha on the issue today, disrupting business and forcing an adjournment during Zero Hour.
Sinha had in an interview to Mumbai Mirror revealed she had called Jaitley. "I didn't speak with the Centre, no one approached me, no one called me. Then (defence minister Manohar) Parrikar (who is now Goa chief minister) informed me around 6.30pm on Sunday that he would show up with his supporters," the newspaper quoted her as saying.
"I am a psychologist, so I studied and analysed them. I saw their signatures on the letters. I deliberated on the matter. The Congress had not shown up."
Sinha then added, according to Mirror: "Then I felt I should speak with Arun Jaitley, and I called him around 9.30 in the evening, discussing the situation. I informed him I had verified the numbers and was satisfied and that Congress leaders hadn't arrived yet. He said that if any party comes with the numbers, it has to be considered. So that settled it."
A Congress statement said: "We urge the Honourable President of India to exercise his powers under Art 156(1) and immediately dismiss the governor of Goa for abdicating her constitutional responsibilities and oath of secrecy."
It alleged the governor had acted "in cahoots with the central leadership in Delhi" and her actions were "politically motivated under the clear instructions of Jaitley".
In the Rajya Sabha, Congress member Digvijaya Singh described Sinha's action as "a gross constitutional impropriety". Deputy Chair P.J. Kurien, however, asked him to move a substantive motion if the conduct of a governor was to be discussed.
Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad later said that Digvijaya had also raised questions over the conduct of Jaitley, the House leader. "The governor said she had consulted the finance minister. How can a governor take the plea of seeking the permission of a cabinet minister?" he asked.
Junior parliamentary affairs minister M.A. Naqvi said the Congress was insulting the people's mandate by raising the matter.
"We are prepared for a discussion. You bring in a substantive motion," Naqvi said.
In its statement, the Congress charged the BJP with manufacturing the Goa majority. It said that convention required the governor to send a report to the President and seek his guidance.
"Since the Union finance minister, Shri Arun Jaitley, could not have advised the governor with respect to government formation, why should the Prime Minister not take action against the finance minister? Or are we to assume that he was authorised by the dirty tricks department of the BJP?" the statement said.
