Assembly rejects ‘elitist’ protocol for Ram Naik

The Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Friday did not follow the new “elitist and undemocratic” protocol for the governor that had been notified by the Rashtrapati Bhavan for all states, on a suggestion made by UP governor Ram Naik.

A miffed Naik was planning to rope in constitutional experts to take further action, sources said. The issue may put the Centre and the state at loggerheads again.

An all-party meeting convene by the Speaker decided not to follow the prescribed protocol on Friday and rejected the idea terming it as “elitist, undemocratic and a remnant of the British era”.

Those who rejected the proposal included members of the Congress, BSP and RLD. The protocol notified by Rashtrapati Bhavan was similar to the one that is followed when the President addresses the joint session of Parliament. However, the governor was presented the guard of honour in the Raj Bhavan before he addressed the joint session of the state legislation on Friday.

According to sources, the Speaker and members of the ruling party were ready to implement the new protocol but the Opposition members vociferously opposed it after which the principal secretary of the UP Assembly, Pradeep Dubey, sent a letter to Raj Bhavan “apprising the governor of the sentiments of the House”. It may be recalled that the state Assembly had received a letter from Raj Bhavan asking to follow the new guidelines for protocols for the governor, which included instruction for how he would be received and then ushered into the Assembly. The Raj Bhavan had sent the letter after it had received a booklet of new protocols from the President.