Gujarat govt demands resignation of Governor Dr Kamla

The Gujarat government on Saturday demanded resignation of the state Governor Dr Kamla, saying it would make way for a "free and fair enquiry" into an alleged land scam pending against her in Rajasthan.

The demand from the Gujarat government comes at a time when a metropolitan court in Rajasthan has ordered enquiry against the samiti members of a co-operative society, of which Dr Kamla is an executive member.

"How can a samiti in which a governor is an executive member flout the norms of co-operative act and demand transfer of a plot in the name of each member showing its value at Rs 11 lakh as against Rs 3.5 crore of each plot," state government spokesperson and health minister Jayanarayan Vyas said.

"Now a metropolitan court on November 20, 2012 ordered enquiry against the samiti members, so it would be fair on the part of the governor to resign to allow free and fair enquiry," he said.

He also asked how a governor can participate in the meetings of a society as executive member and sign minutes and become part of an illegal resolution.

Earlier, in May this year, BJP general secretary Kirit Somaiya, who is also coordinator of the party's anti-corruption cell, had alleged that the governor had tried to acquire a huge chunk of land in Rajasthan by submitting false information about herself.

Dr Kamla had said she is a farmer and claimed to daily spend 14-16 hours to develop lease land and demand adequate compensation of residential and commercial plots in Jaipur city, he said.

The information is totally incorrect and false, Somaiya had said wondering how can a Governor spend 16 hours daily in the farm.

The governor's relationship with Modi had turned soured after she appointed Justice R A Mehta (retd) as the Lokayukta of Gujarat bypassing the state government last year.

The case of appointment by the governor is pending in the Supreme Court.