Only those elected will rule in democracy, Bhagwant Mann says at Left Democratic Front protest in New Delhi

Speaking at the Left Democratic Front protest led by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in New Delhi, Mann says he was forced to come to Jantar Mantar instead of making policies for Punjab

Bhagwant Mann addresses the gathering at the protest in New Delhi. PTI

PTI

New Delhi, February 8

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann slammed the BJP-led Centre on Thursday for "attacking" federalism and using governors in opposition-ruled states to hinder the governments' work, and stressed that only those who have been elected by people have the right to rule in a democracy.

Speaking at the Left Democratic Front (LDF) protest led by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan here, Mann said he was forced to come to Jantar Mantar instead of making policies for Punjab.

"We should have been in our secretariats, making policies, but we have come here to seek our rights. It is important to stick together to save the country," he said.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader accused governors in opposition-ruled states of hindering the state governments' work.

"The (Punjab) governor said the Assembly session was illegal, so we had to go to the Supreme Court....The BJP is nowhere in Punjab. It has only two MLAs. Wherever the BJP is not present, the governors act as the opposition," he said.

"Those elected will rule in a democracy. You cannot dictate. You cannot keep sitting on a bill," Mann said.

He also mentioned a controversy around the Chandigarh mayoral polls held on January 30. The BJP swept the polls against the Congress-AAP alliance.

Manoj Sonkar of the BJP defeated the AAP's Kuldeep Kumar for the mayor's post, polling 16 votes against his rival's 12. Eight votes were declared invalid. Opposition councillors accused the presiding officer of tampering with the ballot papers, a charge denied by the BJP.

"You must have seen what happened in Chandigarh. They had to count 36 votes and they did a scam of almost 25 per cent votes.... In May, 90 crore votes are going to be counted," Mann said, referring to the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

DMK leader Tiruchi Siva accused the Tamil Nadu governor of interfering in the work of the state government and said, "We have assembled here to make the country realise that we are against the authoritarianism of the Union government headed by the BJP."

"The states are being suppressed, our rights are being usurped," he added.

The DMK leader alleged that governors in opposition-ruled states are indulging in "extra-constitutional, unwarranted activities".

"They are not allowing the state governments to make laws. In Tamil Nadu, the governor does the same and everyone knows what the Kerala governor is doing. Have you ever seen a governor sitting on a dharna on a street?" he asked.

Siva expressed confidence that the opposition will form the government at the Centre following the Lok Sabha polls that are likely to be held in April-May.