'Telangana Govt Didn't Follow Centre's Guidelines', Governor Tamilisai Claims KCR Govt Undermined R-Day Event

Telangana Governor claimed that she wrote to the government in which she mentioned that programs should be conducted in a grand manner with public participation to which there was no reply from them

The differences between the BRS government and Governor in Telangana came to fore once again on Thursday with Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao staying away from the Republic Day celebrations held at Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad. Also Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan claimed that the state government didn't follow the guidelines from the Centre.

Tamilisai Soundararajan, who assumed office as Governor in 2019, has been accusing the state government of not adhering to protocol with regard to her office. Pointing to officials not observing protocol during her visits to districts, she has maintained that the office of Governor should be respected.

Telangana Governor claimed that she wrote to the government two months back in which she mentioned that programs should be conducted in a grand manner with public participation to which there was no reply from them. "Just two days back they gave a letter saying that it should be conducted at Raj Bhavan only. In that letter also they didn't mention that CM will attend it. But people are watching, in Telangana's history it will be written that Constitution is not respected," Telangana Guv Tamilisai said as quoted by news agency ANI.

"The Telangana government undermined the Republic Day activity, they didn't have any public program. They wanted me to unfurl the flag at Raj Bhawan itself. No public participation as they did not follow the SOP guidelines from the central government," Tamilisai told ANI.

However, the ruling BRS has denied the charge and said prior to her appointment as the Governor, she was president of BJP in Tamil Nadu.

Asked what the Constitution says about CM attending the Republic Day event and others, legal expert and former Central Information Commissioner Madabhushi Sridhar Acharyulu stated that these are conventions which need to be followed by all to maintain the dignity of the occasion.

A row broke out last year when the Governor's customary address to the Assembly did not take place. Soundararajan had expressed displeasure over the CM not attending the customary 'At Home' hosted by her at the Raj Bhavan.

In an open face-off with the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led dispensation, the governor had last year expressed doubts that her phones were being tapped.

The Telangana High Court on Wednesday directed the state government to conduct Republic Day celebrations in a grand manner, with a ceremonial parade, as per the instructions issued by the Central government.

The high court passed the order after hearing a petition seeking a direction to the government to organise the parade as part of the celebrations.

Meanwhile, Telangana CM KCR unfurled the National Flag at Pragati Bhavan, his camp office-cum-official residence in Hyderabad, and offered floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar, an official release said. KCR visited the Army Memorial at Secunderabad and paid homage to those who sacrificed their lives for the country, it said.

(With agencies inputs)