Bihar Governor Buta Singh on Thursday said he did not consider it wrong in writing a recomendatory letter seeking favour for a dalit railway official.
''I see nothing wrong about it....there is no code which prohibits a governor from writing such letters if someone seeks his help,'' he told reporters, adding ''I am in public life for the last 50 years and have handled over 15 ministries. I very well know the dos and don'ts of the high office I hold.''
Asked if he was aware of a vigilance inquiry pending against the officer prior to writing the controversial letter to Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, the governor shot back asking ''are you investigating me?''
Also read: In the hot seat: Buta Singh
He accused the media of having provoked the National Democratic Alliance and the United Progressive Alliance ally Communist Party of India to launch a 'vilification campaign' against him.
In a letter to Lalu Prasad recently, Buta Singh had recommended posting the chief materials manager (South Eastern Railway), Vijay P Meshram, as controller of stores of central railway, kicking up a controversy.
Also read: Recommendation letters: BJP shifts attention from Buta to Lalu
Singh said a TV news channel telecast an opinion poll which said 92 per cent people in Patna favoured his removal and asked the mediapersons ''should I accompany you people to prove that how many suppporters I have in Patna?''
To a suggestion that he was being projected as a dalit leader, Buta Singh retorted saying "what is wrong in it? I have espoused the cause of dalits throughout my political career spanning five decades ...I have done my Ph D on dalits and it is due to my efforts that a dalit leader got to occupy the top most office in the country.''
Also read: Buta's letter sparks of controversy
On the reported differences between his advisor Arun Pathak and Chief Secretary G S Kang over sharing of responsibilities, the governor said things would be sorted out soon.
