Bhan had tested BJP patience, paid for crossing the line

The Dalit agenda taken up by Suraj Bhan had become a major source of embarrasment for the UP Government as he was seen as charting a political course despite holding a Constitutional position. Bhan wanted chief ministerial powers by mounting pressure on the government and had made Raj Bhawan a parallel power centre in the state.

Kalyan Singh had already stopped receiving Suraj Bhan’s phone calls. His successor Ram Pradesh Guta had lodged a complaint with the Prime Minister. “Bhan’s removal was the part of the same package under which Rajnath was appointed chief minister,” said a state Minister.

The Governor is learnt to have told his supporters that he had “become a martyr for defending the interests of Dalits”. Bhan’s behaviour had already antagonised both the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.

Suraj Bhan wrote to Gupta to set up a control room of the Home Department in the Raj Bhawan, wanted the government to report to him on law and order on adaily basis besides a discretionary fund for himself. He used to express concern over Dalit schemes being run by the state government. He had refused to sign six ordinances. Instead of signing the Religious Places Bill, he had referred it to the President of India.

Immediately after taking over as Governor two years ago, Bhan restarted work on Ambedkar Park which had been initiated by Mayawati. He then started a review of law and order as well as development in various districts. He could not continue it after Kalyan complained to the Prime Minister about the presence of a “second government” in the state.

Bhan refused to sign two ordinances of the Excise and Industries Department last month. He advocated a review of the Ramcharitamanas in presence of RSS chief K.S. Sudarshan since it had not done “justice” to its Dalit characters. Sudarshan rejected the demand.

Last month, Bhan said at the Ambedkar University that Article 370 of the Constition had not been penned by Ambedkar and had been added latter. Most of the details of Section 17 about untouchability had been added.

He is learnt to have raised his Dalit Agenda at the Governors’ meeting convened by the President, saying that Dalit welfare schemes were being ignored. The President formed a committee of Governors under Bhan’s chairmanship.

He became controversial for his decisions such as granting recognition to medical, engineering and degree colleges. He would often hold back files despite the government’s sanction, saying he wanted to “satisfy” himself.