Defending his speech in Varanasi, Governor Ram Naik said that his examples of how Indian talent was honoured in foreign countries was being blown out of proportion as if he had insulted people from UP and Bihar.
“Nowhere in my speech did I had insult the people of UP and Bihar. I appreciated the Indian talent which is working in foreign country. But the comment was projected wrongly,” Naik said in lucknow on Wednesday.
The Governor also clarified that his statement on old-age pension was also misquoted as he had given example about an increase in average life expectancy of the people. “India will have the largest population of youth by 2020 and the country needs a policy to sort out problems of pensioners,” he said.
A section of the media had reported that Governor Ram Naik during his speech at the convocation of Kashi Vidyapeth had said that youths from UP-Bihar were only getting jobs of sweepers in the US while pension of senior citizens was a burden on the country’s exchequer.
The Governor said that he had given the example of a political leader from Maharashtra, who underwent an operation in the US. The doctor who operated him was an Indian while the nurse attending on him was also from Kerala. Besides, the people cleaning the hospitals were from UP-Bihar which shows that India has exported all types of work force to the US.
On the reported tussle between Governor and UP government over suspension of the Registrar of APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University, Naik explained that the state government has no power to intervene in the matter.
“As Chancellor of the University, I have the authority to take a call and hence the state government’s action to revoke the suspension was not as per norms. I had exercised my powers vested in me through the Universities Act,” he said.
The Raj Bhawan had suspended the Registrar of AKTU, US Tomar on Monday last even as the UP government reinstated him on November 11 after vice-chancellor of the university suspended him last year.
Naik said that a high level committee has been set up under the chairmanship of a Retired judge with two Vice-chancellors as its members to probe the alleged irregularities of the Registrar. “let the committee give its report, then only I can take any decision in this regard,” he said.
On the law and order issue Naik said: “The state government is working in the right direction but more needs to be done to improve law and order. I interact with the CM and others over the issue frequently and give my suggestions.”