Hyderabad: Outgoing Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, who has been bitterly accused of being partisan by almost all political parties, said on Tuesday that he was not inclined towards any political party during his tenure. He delivered as per the Constitution and not according to the will of the political parties, he said.
Speaking informally to mediapersons, Mr Narasimhan said he would not be joining any political party, and would settle down as a common citizen, and would deliver the duties of a priest if the situation arose.
“What's wrong with being a priest? Someone might have pleasure in consuming alcohol, someone playing sport. I take pleasure in serving the Almighty", he said. He said 90 per cent of his job had been “done by almighty God,” and he had delivered only 10 per cent.
Mr Narasimhan said that the only time he got hurt was when certain sections of the media portrayed him as a priest going around temples. He said it was his personal life and he never neglected his duties as Governor. He always felt happy when visiting holy places like Tirumala, Yadadri and the Anajaneya temple at Khairatabad.
About his tumultuous address in 2011 to a joint session of the legislature when the statehood agitation was at its peak, Mr Narasimhan said he had anticipated outrage from TRS leaders and had come with a handful of copies of the speech and a cordless mike to finish his address at any cost.
TRS leaders had uprooted his mike, snatched the speech copies from him and thrown paper missiles at him. He said that it was fun while swearing-in the same leaders years later.
Recalling the days of the statehood agitation, President’s rule and eventual bifurcation of the state which he oversaw, Mr Narasimhan praised the police for maintaining restraint. “Except for tear gas shells, not a single bullet was used during the Telangana movement,” Mr Narasimhan said.
He said he had faced several challenges in resolving post-bifurcation issues in an amicable way. He had a few differences with all Chief Ministers. “Persons belonging to the same family will also have a few differences”, he said.
Responding to a question, Mr Narasimhan suggested that the best stress buster was to spent time with one’s family every day.
Responding to speculation that the Centre may appoint him to a key post and that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had offered him a position in Telangana state, Mr Narasimhan said he wanted to be a private citizen. “I want to stay in Chennai. I will enjoy my privacy. I will jump into traditional attire and have idli and dosa,” he quipped.
Asked if he would write a book on his experiences, Mr Narasimhan said nobody would read it and it would be a waste of ink.
