Raj Bhavan not BJP, RSS headquarters: Arunachal governor

Raj Bhavan in Arunachal Pradesh was not the headquarters of the BJP or the RSS, Governor J.P. Rajkhowa said on Monday, and claimed that he was "nobody's agent".

Rubbishing the Congress's accusation of using the governor's house as the BJP and RSS headquarters, Rajkhowa said he was not an "agent" of any political party.

"I am nobody's agent. I was never an agent. I have never used Raj Bhavan as the office of political parties and have no inclination towards any political party but working under the ambit of the Indian Constitution," Rajkhowa told journalists.

"I am not a political person as I was never a member of any political party. I have never visited any office of any political party but I do things on my own conscience and rationale," he added.

He denied that he mentioned cow slaughter in his report to the union home ministry as one of the reasons for breakdown in law and order for promulgation of Article 356 in Arunachal Pradesh.

"The media misquoted the report. I never mentioned cow slaughter in my report but mentioned 'mithun slaughter'. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju had clarified the matter," Rajkhowa said.

However, Rajkhowa exuded confidence that President's Rule in the frontier state could be withdrawn once normalcy returns.

"The state assembly has not been dissolved but was kept under suspended animation and it can be withdrawn anytime by the president once the political crisis is resolved.

"I wish the political crisis ends as soon as possible but it has to be a stable government," the governor said.

"President's Rule is only for a temporary period. Sooner or later, a democratically elected government will be here. Until then, law and order has to be maintained effectively at all costs and also we have to ensure good governance and contain the menace of corruption," he said.

The governor appealed to all political parties for their cooperation and urged them to have patience.

He said funds will be distributed equitably and rationally, without discrimination.

Rajkhowa said he has issued strict orders to the security forces to maintain law and order and at the same time to have a humane approach in dealing with the common people.

He also appealed to the people to carry on their normal duties as usual and in case of any difficulty, they may refer the matter to the Governor Secretariat.

The governor also appealed to the people for their cooperation in expediting developmental work.

On financial matters, Rajkhowa said he has instructed officers to give priority to payment of salaries and allowances of government employees, teachers, pensions to retirees, and underscored that the development process must not suffer.