Federation for People’s Rights (FPR), Puducherry, Secretary, G. Sugumaran issued a Press Statement on 25.04.2011:
In back drop of various charges leveled against the Lt. Governor of Puducherry Mr. Iqbal Singh, on behalf of Federation for People’s Rights, we urge the central government to remove him from the post.
The Enforcement Cell officials enquired the Lt. Governor Mr. Iqbal Singh on 20th April 2011, for helping Hasan Ali to get passport, who was in jail in income tax evasion charge. We also hear that the Enforcement Officials are going to interrogate him once again.
The Government of Puducherry allotted a Medical College at Karaikal to “The South Education Trust” in which the Lt. Governor Mr. Iqbal Singh’s sons and relatives are members. The said medical College was allotted without the approval of the Puducherry cabinet. Also about 32 acres of land was bought for the Medical College at Karaikal. The said land was planned to acquire for the Health Department for various purpose, but the officials acted as middle man and helped the Trust to buy this land for Medical College.
The Trust after getting the essentiality certificate from the Government applied to the Pondicherry University for recognition. The University authorities refused to recognize the Medical College stating that there are no adequate building structures and basic facilities. But, they issued a letter to get loan from the bank for the said Medical College.
The OSD of Lt. Governor and the Trustees continuously refusing the charges leveled against the Lt. Governor Mr. Iqbal Singh should explain why the Raj Nivas top level officer signed and got the said letter from the Pondicherry University.
We request the Government to take stern action against the Chief Secretary and other Health Department officials who illegally allotted the Medical College to the said Trust.
While the Enforcement Wing enquiry is going on, the Chief Minister Mr. V.Vaithilingam and Ministers Mr. Malladi Krishna Rao and Mr. Kandasmy met the Lt. Governor and briefed the media that the Lt. Governor Iqbal Singh was not guilty and he never committed any crime. This attitude is covering up the crime to save the Lt. Governor from the clutches of law. It is also a planned action to hinder the Enforcement Wing’s enquiry.
We insist on the President of India to sack the Chief Minister and other Ministers who openly supported the tainted Lt. Governor and violated the oath taken while swearing as minister to uphold the Constitution of India. In this regard, we are going to send a detailed memorandum to the President of India.
We urge the Central Government to remove the Lt. Governor Mr. Iqbal Singh from the post, who acted illegally by misusing his official power to get a Medical College and helped the accused Hasan Ali to get a passport.
In Union Territory like Puducherry, the Lt. Governors are vested with ample of administrative powers under the Constitution of India and Union Territories Acts. Due to these powers the Lt. Governors are pressurizing the Elected Governments and enjoying lot of benefits illegally. So, we request the Central Government to take steps to reduce the powers of the Lt. Governors and afford all the powers to the Elected Governments only.
The Central Government is appointing the Governors and Lt. Governors without consulting the State and UT Governments. The Central Government is appointing his party persons as Governors or Lt. Governors for whom they are not able to offer any other higher posts. If we request action against the guilty Governors or Lt. Governors, instead of taking action, the Central Government is safe guarding them. So, we urge the Central Government to make suitable amendment in our Constitution enabling to consult the concern State and UT Governments while appointing the Governors and Lt. Governors.
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