ET BureauYou have gone to the SC saying the Centre wanted to remove you as governor, but Home Minister Rajnath Singh has denied this. Is the minister lying?
You should ask the home minister why he’s saying so. I will not comment on the home minister’s utterances. As far as I am concerned, I got two telephone calls from the Union home secretary, on July 30 and August 5, asking me to resign from my post. I was told that if I didn’t resign, I will be removed from my post.
To quote the home minister, ‘There was no move to remove Aziz Qureshi from his post. He holds the constitutional post on pleasure of the President’. Who is correct?
Rajnath Singh is a very nice and perfect gentleman. I know him well and respect him. But only he can explain what he has said. I completely stand by my petition in the Supreme Court... Whatever I have said there is absolutely correct. The home ministry was objecting to a statement I made about rapes in Uttar Pradesh. I myself submitted a detailed explanation on it to the President of India on August 2. I will not comment further as the matter is now sub-judice before the Supreme Court.
The matter has been sent to a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court. Other governors were also removed and some resigned. Will you take up their cause too?
I have put my point of view and my case before the Supreme Court. So, I am sticking to that for the time being. Other Governors can also go to the Supreme Court...that’s their call. My case is that the home secretary cannot call up a governor and ask him to resign. Only the President of India can make that call.
You should ask the home minister why he’s saying so. I will not comment on the home minister’s utterances. As far as I am concerned, I got two telephone calls from the Union home secretary, on July 30 and August 5, asking me to resign from my post. I was told that if I didn’t resign, I will be removed from my post.
To quote the home minister, ‘There was no move to remove Aziz Qureshi from his post. He holds the constitutional post on pleasure of the President’. Who is correct?
Rajnath Singh is a very nice and perfect gentleman. I know him well and respect him. But only he can explain what he has said. I completely stand by my petition in the Supreme Court... Whatever I have said there is absolutely correct. The home ministry was objecting to a statement I made about rapes in Uttar Pradesh. I myself submitted a detailed explanation on it to the President of India on August 2. I will not comment further as the matter is now sub-judice before the Supreme Court.
The matter has been sent to a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court. Other governors were also removed and some resigned. Will you take up their cause too?
I have put my point of view and my case before the Supreme Court. So, I am sticking to that for the time being. Other Governors can also go to the Supreme Court...that’s their call. My case is that the home secretary cannot call up a governor and ask him to resign. Only the President of India can make that call.
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