Stalin urges Vice President to be non-partisan

Chennai, Oct 17 (IANS) Dubbing Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu's comments at a book-release function as "shocking", DMK Working President M.K. Stalin on Tuesday urged him to stay non-partisan and not use the Raj Bhavan for political propaganda in future.

Stalin said Naidu's speech on Monday at the release of 'Those Eventful Days' written by former Tamil Nadu acting Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao "raised a series of questions in public mind".

"While I would like to thank the hon'ble Vice President for the love and respect he has for Tamil Nadu, I expect him to stay true to his words that he is non-partisan and thereby not use the Raj Bhavan for political propaganda in coming times," Stalin said in a statement here.

The DMK leader said it was "disconcerting" to hear Naidu, a former Bharatiya Janata Party leader, say that it was Tamil Nadu government's responsibility to fulfil promises made by Amma (then Chief Minister late J. Jayalalithaa) and that "once a government is formed with majority, it has to go back to the people only after five years and one cannot expect the Governor to disregard the Indian Constitution".

Stalin said the Vice President should re-evaluate his words and reflect on the tone and connotation of words he spoke at the event.

Stalin, Leader of Opposition in the assembly, said Naidu's statement was "shocking", coming at a time when a case is pending in Madras High Court against the disqualification of 18 AIADMK legislators.

The DMK leader said numerous requests were made to former acting Governor Rao to resolve the issue.

"An erroneous statement like this from the Vice President weakens the primary motive and intent of the anti-defection law and the primacy of the idea that a government has to be run constitutionally," Stalin said.