President sacks four governors

The Centre on Friday sacked governors of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat and Goa.

These four - Vishnu Kant Shastri (Uttar Pradesh), Kailashpati Mishra (Gujarat), Babu Parmanand (Haryana) and Kidarnath Sahni (Goa) - have a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Bharatiya Janata Party background and were appointed by the previous National Democratic Alliance government.

"The President has directed that the four shall cease to hold office of governor of their respective states," a terse Rashtrapati Bhavan communique said.

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The President's press secretary S M Khan said Maharashtra Governor Mohammed Fazal will look after Goa, Madhya Pradesh Governor Balram Jakhar Gujarat, Punjab Governor O P Verma Haryana and Uttaranchal Governor Sudarshan Agarwal Uttar Pradesh.

BJP's senior leader Arun Jaitley termed the move as 'unconstitutional' and said the party would oppose it.

Significantly, Rajasthan Governor Madan Lal Khurana, who was also expected to go, has not been touched.