Education, Health, Law and Order prime concerns for Bihar: Gavai

Mumbai, Sep 29 (UNI) Bihar Governor R S Gavai today said education, health, and law and order were the prime issues which needed urgent attention to ensure development of that state but pointed out that these could not be resolved in a day.

Speaking at a meet, the press programme organised by the Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh, Mr Gavai said when he was selected for the gubernatorial office three months ago, he was apprehensive of how he, a politician who is used to be amongst people throughout the day, would be able to adjust to the ''loneliness'' of Raj Bhavan.

''But, there are so many things to do that now I do not realise how time flies,'' he said and added he wanted to utilise his tenure to restore Bihar's ancient glory.

He said he was concentrating on revival of the Nalanda University and was trying to raise a fund of Rs 1000 crore for the purpose.

''There is lot of potential. There is fertile land and water in abundance. There is no mass education but the State has the largest contingent of IPS and IAS students who pass out every year with flying colours,'' Mr Gavai said.

''I took up the gubernatorial post deliberately because It was a challenging job. It is not correct to say that I was denied the Rajya Sabha ticket,'' Mr Gavai said and added that the Governor's office was not ornamental for him.

He said the Centre has been very considerate in allocating funds for Bihar. ''I have established a very good working relationship with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Bihar was backward but not anymore. Previous political leaders had indulged in 25 per cent politics and 75 per cent development. But they were doing 100 per cent politics,'' he said.

Mr Gavai felt that a situation of confrontation will come only if the Governor is partisan. ''If the focus is only development, why should there be any question of confrontation'', he asked.

He said Marathi speaking populace was in a meagre minority in Patna. ''There must be about 50 families in Patna,'' he added.

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