Nagaland Governor RN Ravi. (Morung File Photo)
Kohima, December 16 (MExN): Nagaland Governor RN Ravi on December 16 was given additional charge of Meghalaya.
The President of India is pleased to appoint Ravi “to discharge the functions of the Governor of Meghalaya, in addition to his own duties, during the absence on leave” of Tathagata Roy, Governor of Meghalaya, stated a press communiqué from the President's Secretariat.
The communiqué via PIB India did not cite any reason behind Roy's 'absence on leave.'
Ravi is also the Centre's interlocutor for Indo—Naga Peace Talks.
The move assumes significance as the state has witnessed protests against the amended Citizenship Act, that seeks to grant Indian citizenship to religious minorities of Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Pakistan facing persecution there, PTI news agency reported.
According to an earlier PTI report Roy stoked controversy on Friday by asking those who do not want “divisive democracy” to go to North Korea.
“A democracy is NECESSARILY DIVISIVE. If you do not want it go to North Korea,” Roy tweeted during the day,” it said, adding that the governor was apparently backing the new Citizenship Act.
His tweet came hours before protesters reached the entrance of the Raj Bhavan, tried to breach security following which they were lathi-charged and tear-gassed leaving several of them seriously injured, it added.
Over 20,000 people gathered in front of the Raj Bhavan on December 13 in Shillong demanding implementation of the ILP in Meghalaya, IANS reported. The protesters were demanding the Governor to give his assent to the proposed ordinance.
The change of guard also came a day after the Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma informed that the Meghalaya Assembly will hold a one-day special session on December 19 to pass a resolution to introduce the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state.
Sangma led a delegation of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) which met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday and demanded to introduce the ILP in Meghalaya.
"Governor Tathagata Roy has taken steps to convene the special session. In the session a resolution would be adopted requesting the central government to introduce the ILP in the state," IANS reported, quoting Sangma.
According to the provisions of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019, the new legislation would not be applied in the 10 Tribal Autonomous District Council (TADC) areas of Assam (3), Meghalaya (3), Mizoram (3) and Tripura (one).
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