Haryana governor clarifies ’signing machine’ comments

CHANDIGARH - A day after he created a controversy here by saying that he was only a “signing machine”, Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia Sunday said that he had been misquoted by the media and that the remarks referred to his 1989-90 tenure as Bihar governor.

Pahadia, who had made the comments Saturday while addressing the conference of vice chancellors of universities in north India at Panjab University campus here Saturday, told reporters here that he was misquoted by the media which projected the comment as if he was criticising the Haryana government.

Expressing discontent over his lack of power and authority, Pahadia Saturday called himself a “signing machine” and said that he had no say in the crucial government affairs.

“After taking the post of Haryana governor, I have become a ’signing machine’ in the state. Here files come to me only for the signatures but not for my recommendation or opinion,” he said, in his inaugural speech during the two-day vice-chancellors’ conference.

“The files are already checked and come with a remark of ‘recommended by Haryana government’ and then I am left with no other option than to sign them,” he said.

In other states I had put my best efforts in the field of education but in Haryana, I have no liberty to do so. Though I am the chancellor of universities here but I have no say in their working,” said Pahadia.

Pahadia clarified that he had only referred to the University Amendment Act of Bihar and had no intention to criticise the Haryana government. He said that while speaking at the conference, he was explaining how he had felt when the amendment act was brought to him.