Governor Kamla Beniwal Sacked Over 'Serious Allegations', Says Government

New Delhi: The government today justified the sacking of Kamla Beniwal as Governor of Mizoram yesterday, just two months before her term was to end, as it confronted opposition allegations of "vendetta politics".

Ms Beniwal, who had sharp differences with Narendra Modi when he was Gujarat Chief Minister, had been shifted from Gujarat to Mizoram exactly a month ago.

"Action was taken within rules, as per Constitution, there was no politics involved. There are serious allegations," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said as the ruling BJP braced for battle in Parliament.

Congress leader Manish Tewari said, "Governors are constitutional authorities. They cannot be trampled upon like this."

It is "clear political vendetta", added Congress ally Sharad Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party.

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Samajwadi Party's Naresh Aggarwal concurred, "The manner of her removal indicates political motives and political vendetta around the constitutional high office isn't good for the country."

Ms Beniwal's abrupt exit caps a long battle with Mr Modi in Gujarat, chronicled in a series of public confrontations.

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As Gujarat governor, the 87-year-old had challenged the Modi government on the appointment of a Lokayukta, or anti-corruption ombudsman.

Recently, it was revealed that while in Gujarat, she spent Rs 8.5 crore on frequent air travel at taxpayers' expense.

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Mr Modi, who ruled Gujarat for 13 years, took charge as Prime Minister in May after leading his BJP to a massive victory in the national election.

The BJP government soon moved to replace governors appointed by the previous Congress-led UPA regime. Six governors resigned and some refused to budge. Veteran Congressman Virendra Kataria was removed as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry recently. (Removed as Puducherry's Lieutenant Governor as I 'Exposed' Graft: Virendra Kataria)

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Sources say Ms Beniwal's sacking is linked to her alleged involvement in a land scam four years ago, in her home state Rajasthan. She is accused of acquiring plots of land from the government on claims of working 14 to 16 hours a day as farm labour, even when she was a minister in the state's Congress government.