PS Sreedharan Pillai took charge as the Governor of Goa in July 2021, after being the Governor in Mizoram for more than a year. The former state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Kerala, Pillai had won recognition in political and social spheres before he was made the Governor of the northeastern state.
Pillai has been keenly watching the recent tussle between the state government and Arif Mohammed Khan, the Governor of Kerala that ended after the latter resumed his duties as the Chancellor. In a freewheeling conversation with Malayala Manorama in 'Crossfire', Governor Pillai opens up on a wide range of issues, including the bouquets and brickbats received while he was the BJP president in Kerala.
You had been the Governor of Mizoram
for more than a year, and now, in Goa for the past six months. How do
they compare?
Tourism is the major industry in both states. While
people in Goa welcome tourism wholeheartedly, Mizoram has been
suffering from the 'hangover' of its 35 years' armed struggle against
India. The past has still been weighing down on many minds. Mizoram
has huge tourism potential. But a majority there fear that tourist
inflow would affect their culture.
People in both Goa and Mizoram have innate goodness in them. There are no friction or communal riots.
There was a recent instance of Mizoram
boycotting the Republic Day celebrations. Are you satisfied with your
efforts to bring the people there closer to the nationalist
stream?
There was a total boycott of Republic Day in 2019, much to
the chagrin of the country. If you check the photographs, you will
even see posters saying "Hello China, bye-bye India." When
I was sent to Mizoram in 2019-end, the Prime Minister told me not to
pick up issues with the people, but to hold them closer. Christians
form 88% of the population in Mizoram, and Buddhists, 9%. The present
dispensation there had earlier fought against India.
They accepted the Indian Constitution and flag when Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister. My appointment as the Governor was portrayed as the Centre forcing a Hindu fanatic on the state. But I visited all churches and orphanages there in a short period, uninvited. It took me closer to their hearts.
The current opposition leader there was a five-time chief minister of Mizoram. He is such a prominent personality, and he attended the launch of my book at the Raj Bhavan. His visit reflected the winds of change, and he termed me "the most affectionate Governor in the history of Mizoram." I am proud to recall that the 2020 Republic Day celebrations in Mizoram stood out due to the mass participation. It is not my achievement. It shows love begets love.
There is a narrative that you were made
the Governor of Goa with the upcoming polls in mind?
It is
baseless. My old party, BJP, is in power in Goa, and more than half
of the MLAs are Christians. The Church does not interfere in politics
directly. But I indeed have close relations with the lone Archbishop
of Goa.
The national chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference, Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai, visited the Raj Bhavan recently. It was the first time a personality of such a stature visited the Raj Bhavan. The Cardinal told the media that he had a cordial relationship with the Governor. I am trying to be in good relations with everyone.
You have opined that though the
Governor could not interfere in politics, he should be more
proactive. How different are you from Goa's former Governors?
I
visited about 85 places in the past six months and about half of the
orphanages in the state. I visited six institutions run by the
Missionaries of Charity as well. Though the Raj Bhavan has restricted
visitors, people from these sections visited me. Organisations
engaged in voluntary work unexpectedly visited me and presented me
with the Red Ribbon Award. I have decided to visit the remaining
villages in Goa in the next six months.
My predecessors here, too, might have done all these. Governors have limitations in engaging in activities outside the Raj Bhavan due to security reasons. Governors are not elected representatives like ministers, and hence I won't try to be a power centre. I have recommended certain changes in Sarkaria Commission recommendations regarding the functioning of Governors. I am not into a debate on whether the changes are right or wrong.
Goa, with a Christian population of
more than 25%, has often been compared with Kerala. Do you find any
similarities between the two states?
About 85-90% of Christians in
Goa are Catholics. The Church has only one Bishop, and he is in total
control. Unlike Kerala, Goa does not have different denominations
dioceses or bishops. The Udayamperoor Synod (Synod of Diamper) was
held (June 1599) based on the decision made in Goa. Goa is the only
state that has a church as part of the Raj Bhavan, and Sunday Mass is
being held here. Interestingly, the Governor oversees the Church.
How do you rate the Pramod Sawant
government in Goa?
It won't be prudent on the Governor's part to
evaluate the government.
You must be aware of the recent
friction between the Raj Bhavan in Kerala and the state government.
Do you face similar pressure?
I have a good, cordial relationship
with the state government. I have never faced any pressure from the
central government, and I don't think Raj Bhavan's in other states
would face any such pressure. Accusations and counter-charges are
normal in politics. But it's not prudent on the Governor's part to
respond to all such accusations.
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan
doesn't take the path less trodden. He ignores protocol, visits
people on their birthdays, meets the media frequently. Could these be
seen as changes in tune with the times?
I too do most of these.
Governors are not meant to remain in the Raj Bhavan as 'seven-star
prisoners'. I don't think that Governors should remain mum and enjoy
all the facilities available to them. Governors should interfere in
socially critical issues. I expressed my opinion on scholarships to
minorities in Kerala. I backed Christian leaders when they met me
with the complaint that the scholarship ratio, 80% to one particular
community and the remaining 20% to all others, could not be
justified. Governors cannot sit quietly whenever an issue on
Constitutional rights arises. The Cardinals had raised the issue when
they met the Prime Minister. At last, didn't the Kerala High Court
quash it saying it was discriminatory? If the Governor is convinced
of injustice, he has the right to interfere.
There is a view that Governors put the
government in a quandary by taking a public stand (on issues)?
There
won't be any disagreement of principles, though interpretations may
vary. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan is brave. He had expressed a
contrary view on the Shah Bano case and resigned from the Rajiv
Gandhi cabinet in 1994. He had never hesitated to express his views.
He had taken principled stands on issues and even implemented them.
Hence he cannot be blamed for his responses.
Cardinal Oswald Gracias met you at the
Raj Bhavan, and you played a part in taking three Cardinals to the
Prime Minister. Are you unofficially bridging the gap between the
Church and BJP?
I hold good relations with all denominations in
Kerala, even before I became a Governor. I was the first to be
invited from my old organisation (BJP) by the NSS. I have had the
opportunity to inaugurate SNDP's 'Guru Mandiram'. I haven't used my
good relations for political causes. Even they won't raise such an
accusation. It's all a give-and-take relation and based on trust.
Attempts were made to insult me over these relations. But I am not
bothered.
There was rumour on social media that
you were critically ill with COVID-19. You demanded legal action
against those who circulated the rumour. What is its status?
Yes,
the rumour was circulated during the first COVID-19 wave. I was then
the Governor of Mizoram. Fortunately, I never contracted the disease.
I was never hospitalised. Still, a campaign was launched on social
media that I was critically ill. The Facebook post also said I had a
liver ailment. The post said my life was in danger and urged all to
pray for me. Thousands of people shared the post published on the
Facebook page of 'Kavimannu.' I could not find the person who was
behind the post. So I decided to approach the Kerala government and
police. I contacted my close friend and then minister A K Balan, and
raised the issue. I told him that I am sending a complaint. The Raj
Bhavan secretary complained and an FIR was registered at the
Cantonment Police Station. But nothing happened. Later when I
enquired, I didn't even get a response.
Can a complaint by a Governor be
handled in such a manner?
I don't want to punish anyone, but I
should know who was behind it (the rumour). Isn't that the right of
any citizen? The police should have enquired with Facebook first, and
there is a certain proforma for the purpose. I later learned that the
proforma was filled wrong, which absolved Facebook from its
obligation to respond. The Facebook page, 'Kavimannu', gives the
impression that it is part of the organisation in which I had earlier
worked. But, it was the nerve centre of rumour-mongering. Perhaps
those who knew the person(s) behind the page wanted to protect them.
If this is what a Governor gets, what would be the plight of a common
man. Let those concerned think about it. It should be recalled that
the complaint was lodged by the Raj Bhavan secretary on behalf of the
Governor. All I got was a copy of the FIR and the information that an
application had been made to Facebook. If this is the situation for
someone of my stature, I am very much worried about the situation in
Kerala.
You mentioned in a recent speech in
Kerala that those who had acted against Lord Ayyappa have been
punished? Does such a reference suit someone holding the office of
the Governor?
I was put in the dock in the Sabarimala issue for
something I had not done. I had to lead my previous organisation by
adopting a 'Gandhian model'. We didn't have enough time to discuss
the struggle with all democratically. If I had not then intervened in
such a manner, the fate of my previous organisation would have been
different. But I had to suffer much over that stir. A complaint
demanding the suspension of my membership is still before the Bar
Council. There are reasons for the 'tantri's' statement that the
sanctum sanctorum would be closed when it was felt that a woman would
enter the temple. I am not dwelling on it now.
I have done everything for God, and God has blessed me abundantly. I have also seen what happened to those who took a stand against 'Bhagwan.' For instance, a law professional from Delhi, who was in the forefront, had to perform a puja as penance, and I know what the penance was. Whoever had created trouble there, had to repent.
As the then State president of the party, you might have instructed the party to take up the struggle in the Gandhian way. But the stir was violent.
I am not commenting on the reasons now. I have no intention to breach the 'Lakshman Rekha'. I won't comment on the issue now.
You then urged the party to use the
'golden opportunity' the Sabarimala issue had presented. It was
widely discussed also. The BJP and you are still blamed for that
call. Do you now have a second thought on the statement?
What is
wrong with a party president issuing a call to peacefully utilise the
opportunity the (Sabarimala) row had presented? The term,
'peacefully', should be noted. That's what I said. But a TV channel
dropped that word and made it news. Is it a crime even if it was
avoided? What is wrong with the party president asking the workers to
wage a struggle and utilise the opportunity? A campaign was unleashed
as if I had committed a crime. Even friends in the media were part of
that campaign. Time will find answers for all these acts.
What could the BJP do to take people
into confidence and grow in Kerala?
I have clear views on this
matter. But since I am a Governor, I have put them in cold storage. I
will speak about it if a chance comes to take it out of cold storage.
The BJP performed well in Kerala in
2004 and 2018 when you were the State president. Do you feel even
your party did not recognize your work as the president?
You know
these issues. BJP won 13% votes in the 2004 Parliament election. Did
anyone expect it? The 16% vote share in 2019 was the biggest in the
party's history in Kerala. Still, I was in the midst of a few
controversies and rumours. I did not respond to them. The
achievements were not mine as an individual, but the result of a
collective work. Public workers pass through several adversities.
Lord Ayyappa has always protected me and brought me several
achievements. There were lots of talks over the Marad riots. But it
fizzled out. There were several instances when I had a narrow escape.
In a Facebook post made on the completion of a year as the Governor of Mizoram, you recalled your days as a practicing advocate with nostalgia. It also reflected your desire to return to active politics.
I am occupying one of the highest offices a Malayali could hope for. I am happy with it, and am thankful to those who offered me this position. I am not the one who would quit midway. But practicing as an advocate is a God-given gift. My Bar Council membership has not been cancelled. A complaint has been lodged to suspend the membership. Though those holding gubernatorial positions seldom return to their profession, I have a huge desire to return to it. I am not hiding it. But time decides everything. I am also focusing on writing, and more than 100 books have been released. I am addressed here as a writer also, but in Kerala, I am seen as a politician and advocate. I am indebted to God for his blessings. I won't rule out any possibilities in the future.
Have you noted the controversy over
K-Rail in Kerala? How do you view the criticisms against the
project?
I am a Goan for the time being.