Shillong, July 30: Development and not any personal agenda is the most important priority for the new Meghalaya governor CH Vijayashankar who assumed office on Tuesday evening.
High Court of Meghalaya Chief Justice S Vaidyanathan administered the oath of office to the governor at a function held at Raj Bhavan attended by Chief Minister, council of ministers, senior officers and judges among others.
Addressing a press conference, Vijayashankar said he has a biggest responsibility as governor.
The governor said he does not have any personal agenda as his priority is development.
“I want to take everybody into confidence, no personal agenda including political. Other issues are not related to me. Prime Minister and President of India have entrusted responsibilty to me. When I go back, the entire Meghalaya people should say, one of the honest and very development oriented governors served us”, Vijayashankar said.
Appreciating the cleanliness and the forest cover of the state, he said to ensure cleanliness of the state is also his priority.”I love forest and I love nature, I am also coming from a place where there is forest cover”, he said.
State peaceful, says governor
Though the anti-influx drive of the pressure groups have created law and order situation in the city, the governor said the state is peaceful and there are no law and order issues.
“Meghalaya is a peaceful state , no law and order issues”, he added.
Sangma connection
He recalled that when PA Sangma was the Speaker, he entered Parliament.
“Now, when I entered Meghalaya, his son (Conrad Sangma) is the CM”, the governor said.
To a question whether he wants to be known as a popular governor like the popular president Abdul Kalam, he said former Prime Minister Vajpayee had telephoned Abdul Kalam, who never made any request to become the president. Just three days back, Prime Minister telephoned me offering a good task and informing that the nature of the work will be made known in the evening.
“I came to know at 12 am about the assignment and till that time I did not which state”, the governor said.
Inner Line Permit
When I asked about the demand for Inner Line Permit and the indigenous people’s fear about influx, the governor said, “I belong to backward community …nothing to worry, I visited Meghalaya twice as part of the standing committee on railways…I know the regional issues”.
