Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday said that it was a delightful day for him when he was told that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath wanted to talk to him, adding that Yogi Adityanath had become a symbol of ‘person of action’ today.

Addressing the convocation ceremony of Gautam Buddha University in Greater Noida as the chief guest, the vice president said, “We all know about the past situation of UP. Law and order and development were subjects of concern for everyone in the state. But today, the state has not only become a role model in the country but also in the world in terms of law and order.”

Dhankhar mentioned that due to his long-standing involvement in the legal profession, he had a deep connection with the industrial world, and he was pleased to say that UP had become the preferred destination for industries in the premium category.

Reflecting on his experience as the governor of West Bengal, where he served as the chancellor of three dozen state universities, the vice president acknowledged the challenges associated with the role of the chancellor. He said the convocation ceremony of Gautam Buddha University was unique and stood out from the rest.

He praised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, stating that what he wanted to convey at the convocation ceremony, the chief minister expressed even more effectively. He emphasised that the chief minister’s speech was not that of a political figure but rather of a spiritual leader, a statesman, an educator and a visionary.

Discussing the law and order situation in the UP, Dhankhar said that there was a time when some people took the legal system for granted. “However, under the leadership of Yogi, there is a reign of law in the state today. Regardless of how influential someone is, everyone is accountable to the law,” he asserted.

The vice president urged Yogi Adityanath to elevate Gautam Buddha University to the level of Nalanda and Takshashila universities, expressing confidence that his request would be fulfilled under the chief minister’s leadership.

Encouraging students to advance in artificial intelligence, machine learning, internet of things, and quantum computing, the vice president emphasised that India was fast emerging as a hub of technology. He also urged the corporate sector to invest in educational institutions of the country. He also mentioned that Uttar Pradesh was on the path to becoming a significant hub of defence production.

Inviting students to the new Parliament building, the vice president also called on those receiving degrees to move forward in life with a ‘nation first’ spirit.

The vice president further highlighted rampant corruption in the system in the past and the transformation that had taken place in recent times in the country.

The vice president also said that it saddened him when a Member of Parliament went to Harvard and claimed that democracy was in danger in India whereas India was the only country in the world where democracy prevailed from village to Parliament.

“Today, when India is rising, a handful of people are trying to tarnish its image. In such times, the country’s youth should not remain silent,” he concluded.