People's power will prevail: Rajkhowa

Chi's claims on Aruchal

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, May 13: Aruchal Pradesh Governor-desigte Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa today said India’s defence forces are taking care of “exterl aggression” and they need support from the civil population.

“Defence forces are taking care of exterl aggressions. They need support from the civil population. We have to mobilize the people. Ultimately, people’s power will prevail,” Rajkhowa, whose appointment as the 19th Governor of the frontier state was announced yesterday by President Prab Mukherjee, told The Sentinel when asked about his take on the Chinese aggressions.

But he did not comment much saying, “Let me first go there and see the ground situation. I will speak to the people in the government as well as the local masses.”

He, however, admitted that the assignment is a “challenge”, given the peculiarities of the hill state.

“It is not a very developed state, but there is scope for improvement. Aruchal Pradesh has great prospects in terms of development and infrastructure and in the tourism sector. The people of the state also want development,” he said about the challenges ahead.

Asked about his feeling on being appointed as the constitutiol head of an important state, the former Assam Chief Secretary said, “It is a really good feeling. After ten long years of retirement, the Government of India thought me fit to be the Governor of a sensitive and important state. I am really feeling good.”

Rajkhowa will replace Lt Gen (retd) Nirbhay Sharma who has been transferred to Mizoram.

Born on January 11, 1944, JP Rajkhowa matriculated from Jorhat Government High School (now rechristened Jorhat Government Boys’ Higher Secondary School). He then enrolled into JB College and passed his Intermediate Exam in Arts in 1961, later completing his Bachelor in Arts with Economics Major from Cotton College.

After taking his MA degree from Delhi School of Economics, Rajkhowa cracked the ICS exams in his first attempt and was selected for the IPS. During his training days, Rajkhowa sat for the ICS again and this time he was selected for the IAS which he duly joined.

Known as an upright and disciplined civil servant, Rajkhowa belonged to the first batch of IAS officers to have started their professiol life in the new State capital in Dispur after it was shifted from Shillong.

He has held important positions under the Government of Assam, besides heading major public sector undertakings like BRPL, HPCL and NEEPCO.

Post retirement, Rajkhowa has been involved with various issues relating to the Northeast. He is a regular columnist with The Sentinel.