‘K’taka gov didn’t trangress authority’

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Refusing to enter into the debate over the role of Karnataka governor H.R. Bhardwaj, law minister Veerappa Moily on Sunday said the crisis in the state was an immediate fallout of a clash between two constitutional authorities and only “right-minded” people could decide on their role.
Dr Moily, however, said the governor did not transgress the authority of the Speaker when he suggested the Assembly chair to maintain the position of the House while asking chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa to prove his government’s majority. “It was an opinion... It is your perception (that it was a transgression),” he said.
When pressed further on the issue during an interview with a TV channel, the law minister said, “It is a question of clash of two constitutional authorities — one the governor and the other the Speaker. Who is right... this is a question people should decide... Right-minded people should decide, not the interested party like the BJP.”
Refusing to pass any judgment on the controversial trust vote in the Karnataka Assembly, Dr Veerappa Moily said, “As a law minister I have no right to do so. Even the BJP, which has raised certain objections, is an interested party. I don’t think we can take their suggestions as objective and impartial.” To a question on recalling Mr Bhardwaj from Raj Bhavan, he said, “There is a constitutional process involved in this. Just because some Opposition leaders want recall of the governor... You know it’s not done, unless it is objectively based on merit.”
Asked whether the governor should voluntarily step aside as he had become a figure of controversy, Dr Moily said that question would not arise “in view of my first answer”.
On the governor addressing a press conference, he said there is one school of thought which says constitutional authority should speak less. “But sometimes, the constitutional authorities are provoked to speak because sometimes his actions have been commented upon by interested parties.”
So it is ultimately for him to do that,” he said.
At the same time, the law minister said, a constitutional authority cannot be deaf, blind to happenings around.
“He cannot isolate himself from what is happening in Karnataka,” Dr Veerappa Moily added.