In its strongest message yet to Leader of the Opposition M.K. Stalin, the Raj Bhavan on Sunday warned of legal action against any attempt to lay siege to its campus. A Raj Bhavan statement said that the DMK leader and other parties opposing the Governor Banwarilal Purohit’s visits to various districts were given sufficient time to understand the legal position (on the Governor’s powers) and change their course.
The office of the Governor was protected under Section 124 of the Indian Penal Code and “any attempt to overawe or assault or use criminal force will be dealt with as per the law,” said the statement, issued a day after Mr. Stalin led his party cadre in a protest outside the Raj Bhavan to condemn the arrest of DMK functionaries who staged a black flag demonstration against Mr. Purohit.
Section 124 of the IPC provided for punishment including imprisonment of up to seven years to those attempting to restrain the President of India or the Governor of any State from exercising his or her lawful powers. “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.