Relations between UP and Centre must improve: Governor Ram Naik

Lakhimpur Kheri, Nov 3: Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik on Monday said that relations between the state and Centre must improve for the good of the state.

"Relations between UP and Centre are not like those between India and Pakistan but there is still scope for improvement for good of the state" the Governor, who was here to take part in a programme to felicitate meritorious students of Deen Dayal Upadhaya Inter college, told newspersons.

When questioned on the important issues facing the state, the Governor said, "On power issue, UP Chief Minister told me about Centre's apathy regarding coal supply and inadequate supply. I talked to Union Power minister Piyush Goyal about this and asked him to look into the matter.I talked with both UP CM and the minister and things were likely to improve".

To another question, the Governor said, "I am representative of the Centre in the state and as Centre's representative I have to report to the Centre on monthly basis...whenever the issue of law and order is raised, it has deteriorated from before but at the same time the Chief Minister is making serious efforts to improve power and law and order situation".

Terming higher education as "inflicted with cancer like ailment", Naik said "in state universities, examinations and results are delayed."

Expressing surprise that "in a number of universities, even convocations are not held in time," he said "even cancer can be treated effectively through chemotherapy as he himself was treated through this therapy 20 years ago."

Hoping a qualitative change in higher education, the Governor said "today even more improved therapies are available to treat the cancer of higher education system," he added.

On a lighter note, Naik described himself as "living in Vanprashtha Ashram of politics" though he stressed that this should not be construed as his retirement or that he was tired.

"Its a common notion that a governor is appointed when he is retiring but this is wrong." He said as a representative of the Centre in the state, he would discharge his duties sincerely. Naik rejected reports that his relations with the SP government were bad.

"The UP chief minister himself denied such reports," he said and added that "the chief minister was speaking the truth."

PTI