Governor Ram Naik completes one year in office on July 22. In these 365 days he has seen Uttar Pradesh from close quarters. He has met people from all walks of life and has interacted with litterateurs, artists and writers of all shaded. Probably he is the first Governor who enjoys a very cordial relation with Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. In a freewheeling interview to Biswajeet Banerjee he opens out his heart out and rues that UPiites do not work as hard as compared to people from UP settled in Mumbai. If they had worked as hard as the migrants from UP, the face of UP would had changed by now, he says.
Excerpts of the interview:
Q: How much UP has changed in last one yearIJ
A: In this one year I can say I know more about UP now. People from UP live in Mumbai and I have worked with them closely. They are in every trade and have played an important role in development of Mumbai. IN last one year I can say I know Uttar Pradesh much better.
Q: It is said that UPiites plotted your defeat against Govinda …
A: No this is wrong. Members of Dawood gang and members of a mafia group were instrumental in Govinda’s victory. They helped the cine star. But now Govinda must be repenting as why he defeated me because his experience in politics is not good (smiles).
Q: You had a tryst with migrants from UP in Mumbai and now you are working with them here. In one year how you see the difference.
A: Difference is vast. The people from UP who had migrated to Mumbai have gone there to earn their livelihood. They are using their all energy to make money and send the same back to UP. But here the people are fighting over small issues. They have caste conflicts. They fight for land. All their energy goes down the drain.
Another thing I have experienced is that people in UP do not work as hard as compared to migrants from UPand now settled in Maharashtra. I firmly believe that had they worked hard like them (people from UP working in Mumbai) the face of UP might had changed by now.
Q: You blame people for thisIJ
A: I admit if UP has failed to achieve its glory today it is the failure of the political system. UP has given so many PMs and leaders still it has failed to become an industrialized state. The political leaders have failed in giving direction to the masses.
Q: You are probably the only Governor who enjoys a very cordial relation with CM Akhilesh Yadav. What is the secretIJ
A: (Smiles) I love to interact with people. I have been legislator thrice and MP for five times. I was Union Minister too so I have a tendency to meet people and tell what is right or wrong. Similarly, I speak to Akhilesh Yadav about my views. I convey the same to Mulayam Singh Yadav. They have their views. We respect each other’s views and this has helped in building a good relation.
Q: You are forthcoming in saying that law and order is bad in UP while CM has been saying crime rate is under control. Does not this contradiction of views lead to bad blood between two.
A: I am saying law and order needs improvement. That’s what Akhilesh Yadav too has said when he asked his party men to shun thana and tehsil politics. What Mulayam Singh ji had told his ministers is known to everyone. Recently, I spoke to Akhilesh Yadav about death of Sara. This is my constitutional duty to raise these issues and I am doing the same.
Q: When you joined last year you had took up the cudgel to streamline higher education. Are you satisfied with the progressIJ
A: In last one year convocation in 21 universities was organized. Students are now getting degrees. The examinations are being conducted as per academic calendar and we are able to control copying to some extent. New admissions have started. I can say :Gaadi patri pe aa rahi hai”
Q: What is the next challengeIJ
A: We need to give quality education to students. There are huge vacancies of teachers in state run universities and colleges. We need to fill them. This has been brought to my notice that a teacher is faculty members in three private colleges. This is not a good trend and should end.
I am not talking about research but need to improve quality of education. At one time universities like BHU, AMU, lucknow University and Allahabad University had a name in academic field. We need to regain this old glory.
Q: What have you lost or gained in last one year:
A: I have not lost anything. Instead I know UP better and understand its social-economic condition better than last year. This is I have gained.
Yes, as Governor my movement has been curtailed. I cannot go out to purchase clothes myself. I tell my guests where to go but I myself cannot go.