Centre misusing Governors' office to destabilize non-BJP governments: Yechury
New Delhi, June 17: CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Sunday accused the Modi government of using the Governors office to destabilise the non-BJP state governments as well as to install BJP governments despite the saffron party not winning the mandate.
Yechury's statement came ahead of his joining a protest march to the Prime Minister's residence organised by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday against the alleged high-handedness of the central government and direct interference in Delhi administration.
"Joining the protest rally to the Prime Minister's residence today to express serious condemnation over the manner in which federalism, a fundamental feature of our Constitution, is being undermined by this BJP central government," Yechury said in a statement.
"Utilising the office of the Governors and Lt. Governors, the BJP central government is seeking to destabilise non-BJP democratically elected state governments. This is happening with the democratically elected governments in Delhi and in Puducherry," he said.
Yechury said the office of the Governor was sought to be utilized "to hijack people's mandate in Karnataka" which was thwarted.
He pointed out that the Governor's office was used to "install BJP governments" even after they have "lost the elections", like in Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya.
"The Governor's office has been misused in Bihar to allow the BJP to enter the government through the backdoor after losing the Assembly elections comprehensively," said the leader of the Communist Party of India-Marxist.
Yechury said such efforts were "destroying the already fragile Centre-state relations", which is the backbone of the federal content of the Indian Constitution. "This must not be permitted."
He said the Communists in India were the "first victims of such central authoritarian misuse of constitutional provisions" when the elected government in Kerala was "undemocratically" dismissed in 1959.
"This has happened with Left-led governments repeatedly in Kerala and West Bengal subsequently," he said.
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RCB beat MI by 18 runs after batters fire
Mumbai (PTI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli blasted half-centuries as the defending champions beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in an Indian Premier League match here on Sunday.
Salt (78 off 36 balls) and Kohli (50 off 38 balls) stitched together a 120-run stand for the opening wicket before Patidar scored a rapid 53 off just 20 balls as RCB posted 240 for 4.
In response, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 222 for 5, with RCB spinner Suyash Sharma (2/47) putting the skids on the home side with a double strike in the eighth over, from which they could not recover.
Sherfane Rutherford top-scored for MI with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls.
While opener Rohit Sharma appeared to be struggling with a hamstring issue and had to retire hurt on 19, his partner Ryan Rickelton made 37, while Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (40) were the other contributors for MI.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 240 for 4 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 78, Virat Kohli 50, Rajat Patidar 53, Tim David 35 not out).
Mumbai Indians: 222 for 5 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 71 not out, Ryan Rickelton 37, Hardik Pandya 40; Suyash Sharma 2/47).
