Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday called on President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhawan to discuss a wide range of issues including appointment of a full-time Governor to the State.
Gogoi drew the President’s attention to issues important to Assam, including the request he take steps to appoint a regular Governor without delay.
Almost a month ago, Tarun Gogoi wrote to President Mukherjee, requesting a replacement governor.
President Pranab Mukherjee
Currently, PBB Acharya, the governor of Nagaland, is also acting governor of Assam. In his letter to the President, Gogoi said retaining Acharya as governor of Assam would cause difficulty for Assam’s parliamentary democracy system as well as creating fissures in Assam’s secular ethos.
“I am pained to say that ever since assuming office, His Excellency, the Governor of Assam, through his actions, has steadily lowered the prestige of the institution of the Governor,” Gogoi’s letter said.
Acting Governor Acharya made an unfortunate statement about “Hindustan is for Hindus,” causing uproar throughout India. Acharya said it was a misquote, and he only meant that Hindustan is the home for persecuted Hindus from Pakistan and Bangladesh. Gogoi saw the statement differently, and said the remark reflected Acharya’s divisive and communal mindset.
The Assam CM apprised the President of several issues the State has requested for some time, including the withdrawal of Special Category Status, suspension of NEIIPP and several other issues.
Gogoi also requested the President’s consent to conferring the coveted Srimanta Shankardev Award in New Delhi to which the President responded positively.
The date for the Award ceremony is yet to be announced.
