Kalraj Mishra sworn in as Governor

Tribune News Service
Shimla, July 22

Former Union minister and MP from Deoria in Uttar Pradesh Kalraj Mishra was today sworn in as Governor of Himachal.

Mishra, a senior politician who remained Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the NDA regime, is not new to the state as he remained the BJP in-charge of Himachal for two years.

“I have closely known the state while I was in-charge of party affairs and it will be my endeavour to take Himachal to greater heights while discharging my duty as Governor within the constitutional norms,” he said after taking oath.

Chief Justice, HP High Court, Justice V Ramasubramanian administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mishra at Raj Bhawan.

Chief Secretary BK Agarwal read the warrant of appointment. Governor of Punjab VP Singh Badnore, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Rajiv Bindal, ministers, former chief ministers Virbhadra Singh and PK Dhumal and other senior politicians and bureaucrats attended the oath ceremony.

Born on July 1, 1941, Mishra remained a tall figure in UP politics. He has been the Uttar Pradesh BJP president, besides having been an MP, both of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

“I would like to focus on issues such as education, health, environment protection, climate change adaptation and cleanliness,” he said in an informal interaction after taking oath. Asked if he would carry forward the campaign launched by his predecessor Acharya Devvrat supporting girl’s education, zero budget natural farming, cleanliness and against drugs, he said he would examine and study everything before making up his mind, but all good campaigns needed to be given an impetus.

“Himachal is known as Dev Bhoomi and my effort will be to take everyone along, including ruling and the Opposition parties,” he remarked. He added that special efforts need to be made towards poverty alleviation and rural development and also towards providing a congenial and enabling environment for the disabled.

The Chief Minister also supported the issues raised by the Governor and said his government was committed to providing quality health, education and other facilities to every section of society.

“Mishra ji has been in-charge of the BJP affairs in Himachal for two years so he is familiar with the state and its problems and his government would seek his guidance on various issues,” said Thakur.

Chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ rent the air after the conclusion of the oath-taking ceremony by BJP leaders and workers who were present in large numbers at the swearing in ceremony.