Mishra given addl charge of Meghalaya

NEW DELHI, 2 Oct: Arunachal Pradesh Governor BD Mishra has been given additional charge of Meghalaya with incumbent Satya Pal Malik, whose remarks against the now-repealed farm laws made the headlines during the farmers’ protest, completing his term on 3 October.

Malik (76) served as the governor of Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir and Goa before being moved to Meghalaya in August 2020.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a communiquæcopy; on Saturday, “The tenure of Satya Pal Malik, governor of Meghalaya, is going to be completed on 03.10.2022.”

“The president of India has been pleased to appoint BD Mishra, governor of Arunachal Pradesh, to

discharge the functions of the governor of Meghalaya, in addition to his own duties from the date he assumes charge of the office of the governor of Meghalaya, until regular arrangements are made,” the communiquæcopy; said.

Malik was the governor of Jammu & Kashmir when Article 370 was withdrawn and the state was divided into two union territories. He, thus, became the last governor of the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir.

He was appointed governor of Bihar in 2017, before being moved to Jammu & Kashmir in 2018. After the state was divided into two UTs, Malik was shifted to Goa, and finally to Meghalaya.

He courted controversies with his statements on farmers’ agitation and was publicly critical of the government.

Also, in one of the statements, he had claimed that, during his tenure as J&K governor, two files had come to him and he was offered a huge bribe by a prominent business house of the country and a representative of a political party.

The CBI had registered two cases in this connection.

A recent media report quoted him as saying he would not be joining any political party after his retirement but continue to work for the cause of farmers. (PTI)