Raj Bhavan cites Section 124 of IPC, warns Tamil Nadu opposition against using 'criminal force'

CHENNAI: In a strongly-worded statement against DMK working president MK Stalin, on Sunday, the Raj Bhavan cited Section 124 of Indian Penal Code and warned that anyone using ‘criminal force’ to stop Governors from discharging duties could be sentenced to up to seven years’ imprisonment.

In response, Stalin said his party would not be cowed by  “empty threats” and asked the Governor to read Article 163 of the Constitution and Supreme Court judgments’ interpreting it. He said Governor Banwarilal Purohit’s actions had caused people of Tamil Nadu to wonder if the Governor was carrying out political activities — that the State BJP president might perform.

Purohit’s regular meetings with district-level officials have been a contentious issue. Opposition parties consider them an infringement on the State government’s rights. DMK partymen have been holding black flag protests whenever the Governor visits districts for such meetings.

The Raj Bhavan release said the Governor had Constitutional powers to visit any part of the State. It said officials were making presentations about government schemes and no directions were being given by him. “The use of the word ‘review’ by the Leader of the Opposition is an attempt to mislead the people.

He is either ignorant of the law or attempting to overawe by threatening to besiege Raj Bhavan or block the roads leading to the Raj Bhavan,” it said. Raj Bhavan said the Governor’s office was protected under Section 124 of IPC and whoever assaults or wrongfully restrains, or attempts wrongfully to restrain, or overawes, by ‘criminal force’ or ‘show of criminal force,’ would be punished with imprisonment for a term that could extend to seven years.

In response, Stalin asked why Governors in BJP-ruled States do not conduct such meetings. He said his party’s protests against the Governor would continue, referring to Raj Bhavan’s averment that the Governor would continue to carry out such meetings with State government officials.

Stalin, booked along with 1k DMK workers, for stir
The Chennai police on Sunday booked DMK working president Stalin and 1,111 DMK partymen for staging a protest on Saturday near the Raj Bhavan. Meanwhile, on Friday, DMK workers were arrested for holding a black flag protest against the Governor in Namakkal, resulting in a fresh showdown.