AHMEDABAD: The Narendra Modi government may have dragged its feet in mounting photographs of President Pranab Mukherjee in the secretariat. But, the state government has been quick to adopt a new protocol notification issued by the President’s office which calls for doing away with colonial adjectives like His/Her Excellency while addressing governors.

Modi had slammed governor Dr Kamla Beniwal for allegedly stalling the legislation for women's reservation in civic bodies at his recent speech before FICCI Ladies Organization. His government has written to the office of governor suggesting that the protocol should be adopted.

The state general administration department (GAD) has sent the proposal attaching the president’s notification to the governor, who is yet to respond. While other states have not moved on this matter, the haste shown by Gujarat stems from the strained relations between Modi and Dr Kamla.

The state government received the notification, which was issued in October 2012, only in January this year. The GAD took it up with the governor’s office in February.

President Pranab Mukherjee has approved a new set of protocol to be used for greetings and meeting with dignitaries in India as well as abroad. Use of the words ‘His Excellency’ has been discontinued. In Hindi, Rashtrapati Mahoday should be used in place of Mahamahim during such occasions.

Mukherjee, after reviewing the current protocol practices, has also directed that the word ‘Hon’ble’ be used before the title of ‘President’ or ‘governor’. As per the new set of protocol of the president, the term 'excellency' term will be used only for foreign dignitaries as is customary international practice.

It has also been decided that the word Rashtrapatiji will replace Mahamahim in official notings in the president’s secretariat.