Meghalaya Governor V. Shanmuganathan resigns

Raj Bhavan employees alleged that he had “seriously compromised the dignity of the Raj Bhavan and made it a ‘young ladies club’.

January 26, 2017 10:56 pm | Updated January 27, 2017 04:17 pm IST - Shillong

V. Shanmuganathan

V. Shanmuganathan

Facing sexual harassment charges, Meghalaya Governor V. Shanmuganathan on Thursday night resigned after a section of Raj Bhavan employees demanded his removal for “seriously compromising” the dignity of the gubernatorial office.

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said earlier in the day said that he was waiting for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Home Ministry to take a call.

Nearly 100 Raj Bhavan staff here petitioned President Pranab Mukherjee, the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh seeking their intervention to remove the Governor and restore the dignity of Raj Bhavan.

They alleged that Mr. Shanmuganathan had “seriously compromised the dignity of the Raj Bhavan and made it a ‘young ladies club’.

“It has become a place where young ladies come and go at will on direct orders of the Governor... Many of them have direct access to his bedroom.”

Mr. Shanmuganathan, who took over as the Governor of Meghalaya in May 2015, on Thursday attended a Republic Day celebration in Arunachal Pradesh, whose additional charge he holds since November last following the removal of Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa.

Women activists had begun a signature campaign here seeking Mr. Shanmuganathan’s removal.

The campaign, spearheaded by women-led Civil Society Women Organisation (CSWO) and Thma u Rangli (TUR), was launched following reports of inappropriate behaviour by the Governor.

A woman job aspirant had also accused the Governor of making advances when she was appeared for an interview at the Raj Bhavan.

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