Bhagwant Mann’s sly dig lands him in hot water: Governor Purohit’s fiery response

Punjab’s Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann and the state’s Governor Banwarilal Purohit are locked in a fiery exchange of words, with the latter firing shots against the CM for alleged slanderous remarks made during a June assembly session. Banwarilal Purohit, burning with indignation, suggests he might slap Bhagwant Mann with a criminal complaint if such derogatory comments about him persist.

Purohit’s Strong Warning to CM Mann

The feud ignited when Bhagwant Mann reportedly took jabs at the governor, mocking him for constantly “writing letters” and labelling him as “idle”. Purohit shot back, pointing out that while Bhagwant Mann might be shielded by certain legal protections inside the assembly, such defenses wouldn’t save him outside. In fact, he hinted at unleashing a legal storm, potentially charging the CM under Section 124 of the Indian Penal Code, if Punjab CM Mann dared to repeat such defamatory remarks.

Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit takes on CM Bhagwant Mann over derogatory remarks. Photo courtesy of Vice President’s Secretariat, Government of India/

Governor’s Retaliatory Actions?

Ramping up the tension, Governor Banwarilal Purohit made a sharp move on Friday by cutting short the extensions granted to the Vice Chancellors of two prominent state universities. Instead of the proposed one-year extension, he permitted only a six-month extension, referencing UGC norms as his rationale. This abrupt decision has inevitably stirred discussions about the ongoing clash between the CM and the governor, especially since the state government had earlier vouched for a longer tenure for the VCs.