July 31: Soon after accepting the "unexpected" post of Tripura governor, Tathagata Roy had told this newspaper in an interview in June: "I will now be tweeting on Agartala's weather and topography to avoid any controversy."

Today, the weather turned inclement for Roy in several parts of the country after he tweeted: "Intelligence shd keep a tab on all (expt relatives & close friends) who assembled bfr Yakub Memon's corpse. Many are potential terrorists."

Roy, who has described himself on the micro-blogging site as a "proud swayamsevak," drew flak for making partisan statements. Roy used to head the Bengal BJP and is the brother of Trinamul MP Saugata Roy.

The governor defended himself by tweeting again: "When I suggested 'intelligence keeping a tab', I mentioned NO COMMUNITY. So how come I'm accused of being a 'communal bigot'? Guilty conscience?"

He said later in reply to a question: "I stand by my comment on Twitter."

Roy also took a swipe at the CPM, whose leaders had signed a memorandum seeking mercy for Memon. "This is posturing. In China, people are summarily hanged even for economic offences, and there is no scope for mercy petitions or midnight hearings," the governor said.

The governor's first tweet has drawn widespread condemnation. Former attorney-general Soli Sorabjee said: "A governor should not make politically charged statements. But the state government can't do anything if he does."

Former law minister Shanti Bhushan described the governor's remarks as absurd. "He represents the central government and holds office in its pleasure. They can terminate his services if he oversteps his limits. If they don't, it implies that his views are those of the government of India."

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen MP Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted a video of the crowd at Memon's funeral and said: "Your Excellency, please view it and can action be taken? I leave it to your wisdom."

Former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee told reporters: "He should not have resorted to Twitter if he wants to give any advice to the government. He could have told the chief minister (of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis) or he could have sent a message to him."

Roy, 70, is now writing his autobiography. In several interviews, he has described himself as an "anti-communist".

Tripura is the solitary Indian state ruled by communist parties now.