Chandigarh officers are the best, says Punjab governor and UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit, says he had resigned purely on personal grounds

Chandigarh, March 7

Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Banwarilal Purohit on Thursday said the grounds for his resignation last month were purely personal, and added that he was, however, told to stay and continue his work.

In an interaction with media here, Purohit also talked about various initiatives taken during his tenure so far as the Chandigarh Administrator.

Asked about the real reason behind his resignation, he said, “I have sent it (resignation), but they are not leaving (me) and telling me (to) stay and work.”

“They said ‘nahi karenge’ (won’t accept resignation),” he said.

He said the grounds he gave for his resignation were purely his family and personal reasons and nothing else.

“My wife came here from Nagpur but went back after 10 days. My family, they are missing me there…I am also international vice president of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and I started the Nagpur centre in 1984,” he said.

Purohit had last month submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu, citing personal reasons.

“Due to my personal reasons and certain other commitments, I tender my resignation from the post of governor of Punjab and administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh. Please accept the same and oblige,” Purohit wrote in his resignation letter.

Purohit was appointed Punjab governor and Chandigarh administrator in August 2021.

Asked about his address to the Punjab Assembly on the opening day of its budget session on March 1, when it was disrupted by the opposition Congress legislators who raised the issues of the protesting farmers, the governor said, “I am of the view that time of the House should be properly utilised. I had told them (Congress members) that they listen to my address first and then they may speak and have a healthy debate (on Governor’s Address).”

Meanwhile, referring to his tenure as Chandigarh administrator so far, Purohit said, “We have done a lot of work in past two-and-a-half years.”

He said he had utilised his vast public life experience for public good. He also mentioned that he had in the past also remained a three-term MP, governor of Assam, holding additional charge as Meghalaya governor for 18 months, governor of Tamil Nadu for four years before he was made Punjab governor.

“But I can say the team of Chandigarh UT officers with whom I am working is one of the best teams. I have public life experience of five decades and in UT Chandigarh, I got the best team,” he said.

He said Chandigarh had made rapid strides in many fields during past few years.

“In the Swachh Sarvekshan, Chandigarh now ranks 11th from 66th rank once. I promise that in coming two years, we will be among first five, we will achieve that target,” he said.

“We are best urban local body in water management in the country. We are amongst the best in smart cities and best project in mobility.

“Chandigarh is the best UT in energy efficiency index. These are just a few achievements,” he said, and added that in e-governance initiatives too, Chandigarh is ahead.