Governor Syed Ahmed at a news meet in Ranchi on Tuesday. Earlier, Ahmed released intermediate and TET results at JAC office. Picture by Hardeep Singh nSee Pages 6, 7

Ranchi, May 28: Governor Syed Ahmed today said he had no magic wand to cure Jharkhand’s bimari, skirted tricky questions on Assembly and arrests but added he and his team were trying their best to improve governance in his maiden news meet four months after President’s Rule.

Showering warm praise on his core team — advisers K. Vijay Kumar and Madhukar Gupta and chief secretary R.S. Sharma and others — the governor said it worked “round the clock to accelerate development” in Jharkhand, which he referred to obliquely as being ill for 12 years.

In his maiden news meet over four months after President’s Rule, the Governor listed achievements like a seasoned politician.

He spoke of delegating rights to elected panchayat representatives, strengthening public distribution system, improving health services, releasing funds swiftly under old-age pension scheme, modernising police force, controlling Maoist violence, implementing Sachar Committee Report for minority jobs and better execution of MGNREGS.

The litmus test of good governance, Ahmed said, was “visible change and appreciation at the grassroots”.

A thick document titled Rastrapati Shashan Samridhi Path Par Agrasar Jharkhand was also circulated before the governor’s 90-minute media interface. Personally, too, the governor also did not choose discretion over valour.

“Barah saal se iss bimari ne jad pakad liya hai jise khatam karne me waqt lagega. Meri puri koshish hai (this is a 12-year-old deep-rooted disease which needs time to cure. I am trying my best).”

On his agenda were trips to districts to see development steps taken by the government in the past four months, he added. “I want direct communication with people. I will move beyond protocol to meet people whenever required. The gates of Governor House have been kept wide open for visitors who can meet me between 11.30am and 1 pm,” he said.

He reminded the media that the day he took over the control of the state, he had listed law and order, corruption combat and development as his three top priorities.

“Many erring officers have been suspended after I paid surprise visits to offices. I know suspension creates problems for families, but such steps have to be taken. I won’t stop making surprise visits to ensure officials come to work on time and deliver their best with honesty,” he said.

But faced with a volley of questions from mediapersons who sought to know the number of high-profile persons against whom action had been taken, and why police weren’t able to arrest former minister Nalin Soren, JMM MLA Sita Soren and former RMC mayor Rama Khalkho, Ahmed sought refuge in euphemisms.

“It is good that such people are on run as they fear police action. Earlier such people indulged in corruption because they had no fear from police. I can say that the law and order situation has improved. Modernisation of police is on our agenda and to a larger extent we have been able to instil confidence among people,” Ahmed said. He also ducked a good number of critical posers on whether he had set a deadline by which a government in Jharkhand could be formed or the dissolution of Assembly announced.

Instead, he offered a diplomatic reply open to interpretation. “Government formation is a game of numbers. Whosoever stitches the required numbers can claim power,” he said.

Those in the Opposition often charge Governor House and governance being remote-controlled by the Congress in all matters, including transfer and posting of officials. Asked on this, Ahmed claimed transparency.

“Transfers and postings are made without favour or pressure,” he said.

Accompanied by advisors, state DGP, chief secretary, his principal secretary and secretaries of other departments, he gave his final take on this tenure of President’s Rule. “We may commit mistakes but our intention is honest and we are willing to work,” he said.