MANN SLAMS GUV FOR ‘INTERFERING’ IN FUNCTIONING OF PUNJAB GOVT

CHANDIGARH: Days after governor Banwarilal Purohit sought the removal of Punjab Agricultural University vice-chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal, terming his appointment “totally illegal”, chief minister Bhagwant Mann responded saying all the norms and laiddown procedures had been adhered to while making the appointment.

The row is the latest in a series of standoffs between the governor and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the state.

“Dr Satbir Singh Gosal is a known scientist and a respectable Punjabi Sikh. Yours directions to remove such a person was a cause of anger among Punjabis,” said the chief minister in the letter shared on Twitter.

The CM’s response came after the governor had on Tuesday objected to appointment of Gosal as PAU’s V-C, alleging that his approval was not sought in the matter and that the procedure laid down by the University Grants Commission was not followed.

Meanwhile, a controversy erupted over the chief minister’s letter as the one received by the governor’s house was different from the communication that the CM posted on Twitter. The governor house has now sought a clarification from the CM.

“There is a letter in circulation in media which is in Punjabi, alleged to have been written by the CM to the governor but this letter has not been received in Raj Bhavan till this moment. However, the letter received in Raj Bhavan is in English and the contents of both the letters are materially different,” a spokesperson of the governor house said, seeking a clarification.