Governor Crossing Limits By Holding Mahila Darbar: CPI

Communist Party of India (CPI) national secretary K Narayana today slammed Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan for deciding to hold "Mahila Darbars" at the Raj Bhavan, and alleged that the Governor was crossing all her limits.

The CPI leader asked the Governor what the necessity was of holding such a program when an elected government was functioning, and demanded that she cancel the program immediately.

He said that while anybody could make a representation to the Governor, holding a "darbar" was not proper for a person holding the Constitutional post.

He also said that at a time that the BJP unit in the State had stepped up its political attack on the government, the Governor's action could turn Raj Bhavan into a political centre.

Narayana's reaction came a day after the Governor announced that she would be holding Mahila Darbars hereon to hear the grievances of women.

According to a statement from the Raj Bhavan, Soundararajan has decided to hold separate Mahila Darbars as part of her Praja Darbars to "hear the unheard voices of women", on Fridays from 12 noon to 1 pm at the Raj Bhavan.

Women who wish to come and meet the Governor can get appointments by calling 040-23310521 or by emailing the requests to rajbhavan-hyd@gov.in

The Governor's decision has come amid the increasing incidents of sexual assault against women, especially minor girls. After the May 28 gang-rape of a 17-year-old girl by five persons in a car in Hyderabad's upscale Jubilee Hills, the city has reported a series of incidents of similar sexual assaults.

Narayana however also said that the CPI would continue its "principled" fight against the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government. He slammed the State government and police over the handling of the gang-rape case, and alleged that there was an attempt to shield the accused.

Stating that allowing minors in pubs was illegal, he wanted to know why the pub was not yet sealed and its owner not arrested.