The two-day annual conference of state Governors concluded today with President Pranab Mukherjee telling them that he did not see any diminution of their role as long as they exercised their authority within the boundaries of the Constitution.
In his concluding remarks at the annual 46th Governor's Conference, Mukherjee said the Governors have an important role to play in making cooperative federalism a reality.
Terming Governors as a bridge between the states and the Centre, he said "they also function as a sentinel of the Constitution and a live link with the Union. It is expected from them to make a positive contribution in strengthening the partnership between the Centre and the States."
The President said the authority exercised by Governors or the Lt Governors "is based on a moral premise" and as long as the exercise of that authority "is confined to the boundaries of the Constitution, he did not see the possibility of any diminution of their role."
Mukherjee appreciated Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's suggestion to actively involve the Governors in the internal security related apparatus and requested him to consider convening separate meetings with groups of Governors having similar problems like North Eastern states, coastal states, states with international borders and Left Wing Extremist affected states.
He asked Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to look for a similar possibility of involving the Governors of states having an international border "in a focused interaction on border and security issues".
Mukherjee appreciated the decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of directing eight Union Ministers to tour Northeast every fortnight for reviewing developmental work.
He also suggested that Governors of Northeast states should become active partners in Government's "Act East" policy and requested External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to convene a separate meeting with the Governors of the these states to sensitise them on the finer aspects of this policy.
