Chandigarh (Punjab) [India]: The newly sworn-in Punjab Governor, Gulab Chand Kataria, has stated that he will make every effort to fulfil the responsibilities of his office as a good public servant.
“The President has given me the responsibility of Punjab. I will make every effort to carry it out like a good public servant. These posts are not decorations; they require serving the people,” Kataria told reporters on Wednesday after being sworn in as the governor of Punjab and administrator of Chandigarh.
“In 40-45 years of public service, I have considered serving the people my ‘dharma.’ Here too, I will make an effort to see how useful I can be in resolving the issues of the common people. Anyone can come to me and speak.
“I don’t compare myself to anyone… I habitually work in tandem with everyone. I think we contested elections from different political parties, but the goal is to serve the people well,” he added.
Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Sheel Nagu administered the oath of office to Kataria at a ceremony at Raj Bhavan.
Kataria, who was the Assam governor before his present assignment, replaces Banwarilal Purohit, who served as the governor of Punjab for nearly three years before tendering his resignation in February. President Droupadi Murmu accepted his resignation on July 27.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann congratulated Kataria and said that he and Kataria will work together for the welfare of the people of Punjab.
“I would like to congratulate Gulab Chand Kataria. He is taking charge as the new governor of Punjab. He is an 8-time MLA and a 1-time MP.
“He had been a minister in the Rajasthan government. He was also the governor of Assam before this. So, we will utilise him, and together we will work for the welfare of the people of Punjab. I respect him; he is experienced. We will use that experience,” Mann told reporters.