E-Paper
Criminals call the shots in panchayats, rues Governor
UTTAR PRADESH Governor TV Rajeswar on Monday expressed concern at the election of ?criminals? and ?dacoits? in the recent panchayat elections in the state. Addressing the convocation of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith today, the Governor, who happens to be the Chancellor of the University, was in the best of forms when he delivered his speech, saying his written speech be treated as read since ?he wanted to say something else like the chief guest, renowned scientist Yash Pal did?.
UTTAR PRADESH Governor TV Rajeswar on Monday expressed concern at the election of ‘criminals’ and ‘dacoits’ in the recent panchayat elections in the state.
Addressing the convocation of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith today, the Governor, who happens to be the Chancellor of the University, was in the best of forms when he delivered his speech, saying his written speech be treated as read since “he wanted to say something else like the chief guest, renowned scientist Yash Pal did”. He said former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s dream of developmental funds to reach the grass-roots level could not be realised in a scenario where criminals and dacoits were elected to the panchayats.
He referred to the recent panchayat elections in the state.”We had panchayat elections in the state recently,” the Governor said, adding,”but a number of criminals and dacoits got elected to such institutions”.
“One just can not expect funds and development to reach the grassroots level when dacoits and criminals rule the roost in panchayats”, Rajeswar said amid thunderous applause from the audience. The Governor referred to a national daily in which a detailed list of criminals and dacoits elected in the panchayat polls in the state was published some time ago.
Stressing the need for the students and pass-outs to use English as a medium of communication in this era of globalisation, Rajeshwar said, “ Though I face criticism on this front, I don’t care”.
Lashing out at the dubious role of some vice-chancellors in the past, the Governor said, “Action had to be initiated against four such vice-chancellors for putting degrees on sale, thus lowering the standard of education”.
He said one such vice-chancellor had allowed opening of 700 distance education centres spread across the country through which degrees were offered to just about anyone for money, through middle men.
Similarly, the Governor informed that another such vice- chancellor offered PhD degrees to his near and dear ones within a record breaking period of four months—again for money.
“ The most surprising part of this mess created by these vice-chancellors was that even BTech and MTech degrees were offered by them during their tenure ”, he said, adding, “Now attempts have been made improve the system which had worsened”.
He called upon the pass-outs to be modern, specialise in English and computers and come up in life. Prof Yashpal delivered the convocation address.
