In a veiled attack on Akhilesh Yadav government, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik said there was room for improvement in law and order and Raj Bhawan would monitor it as per the Constitution.
“I have written letters to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and he has informed that he is taking all measures to control law and order. There is always a scope of improvement (in law and order) in the state as well as in the country,” he told reporters in a press conference here on Monday.
Replying to the queries, the Governor said that he came to know about some critical remark against Raj Bhawan made by leaders during the Samajwadi Party’s national convention. “Nor I have sought the copy of the SP’s resolution nor they have sent me,” he said adding that he won’t say further on the issue.
The Samajwadi Party in its in its resolution had criticised activism shown by Governor and even suggested this constitutional post should be abolished.
Naik gave a brief account of the lokayukta’s report on the corrupt practices of the politicians. “I have sought a reply from the Chief Minister over not taking action on the lokayukta’s report. Yadav has said he is looking into the matter,” he said.
The Governor said that Raj Bhawan is not an intelligence office which keeps watch on corrupt ministers but said if the government refuses to act according to lokayukta report he will ask the report to be tabled in the state legislature.
In his almost 45 minute interaction with media he saw the positive side of the government too when he said that Government decision to start metro was praise worthy. “Bhoomi Pujan has been done. The main challenge for the government starts now. It has to be seen as when this project is completed,” he said.
When asked about the dinner hosted by him for RSS leaders in the Rajbhawan recently he said: “They are my friends for past 25 years. When my doors are open for common people, why should not I invite my friends for dinner here.”
He also said several leaders including Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, BSP leader Mayawati had paid visit to Raj Bhawan.
Governor said he always try to follow the democratic and constitutional norms in his day to day routine and was total satisfied with his working.
Talking about state of affairs in 24 Universities of which he is the chancellor, Governor said convocation dates have been finalized. “VCs of two universities have been announced while Director of SGPGIMS and Chatrapati Shahuji Maharaj University, Kanpur would be appointed in a day or two,” he said.
On this occasion he also released a booklet ‘ Rajbhawan me Ram Naik’ which has been edited by his daughter Vishakha Kulkarni, his daughter. The booklet comprises clippings of the print media and the photographs.
In a rare appreciation Governor Ram Naik said that ‘ Acche Din’ (Good days) have come as prices of petrol and diesel have come down and hoped that prices of essential commodities would decline further.
The former Union Petroleum Minister also defended the Narendra Modi government for its decision to de-regulate the diesel price.
The Governor though claimed that he would not make any political comment yet said that the ‘ wave of change’ which started from lok Sabha elections is still continuing. “ Maharashtra has given a good result. I congratulate winners,” he said.
Elaborating on the de-controling of diesel price, he said the move was made when he was the union minister but the UPA government shelved it. “ At my time the import of petroleum products was 70 per cent of the demand but now it is 80 per cent. Certainly, the central government will look into increasing the production,” he claimed.