Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel has flagged ‘shortcomings’ in the functioning of a state university in Gorakhpur, the political turf of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, giving ammunition to the Opposition.
The Governor highlighted the low quality of food, the poor functioning of hostels as well as mess and canteen arrangements among others in her address Thursday at the convocation ceremony of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University.
“Some people may not like what I am saying, but shortcomings have to be pointed out. These deficiencies should be rectified within the next three months. This is Gorakhpur, where our Chief Minister himself resides. If such shortcomings exist here, then what will happen?” she said.
“The girls’ hostel has a mess, but there is no mess in the boys’ hostel. Food is brought from outside in tiffin. Why? Does this look good?”
Patel said she had personally inspected the university’s arrangements and felt it was necessary to bring the deficiencies to the administration’s attention.
This is not the first time the Governor has raised such questions over the management of universities. Earlier, she had made similar observations about the functioning of King George’s Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow and Sampurnanand Sanskrit University in Varanasi.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav took note of the Governor’s address to compare the so-called models of Gorakhpur and Gujarat.
“While exposing the ‘Gorakhpur model’, the comparison has also brought to light allegations of irregularities in the ‘Gujarat model’. The common thread between the two is that both have BJP governments and what is also common is BJP’s alleged mega-corruption. Their internal clashes have turned the so-called ‘double-engine’ government into a ‘trouble-engine’ government’,” he posted in Hindi on X.
Other shortcomings that Patel highlighted were alleged drug use, poor internet connectivity, electricity issues, and cleanliness in the hostels.
“If food can come in tiffin, drugs can also come in tiffin. Anything can come in a tiffin,” Patel said, urging the university to make its own arrangements for providing food to students.
The Governor said she had personally visited the university and inspected the food arrangements. She said she called food safety officials after finding the quality of food at the girls’ hostel unsatisfactory and directed them to collect samples.
“I am not saying this as the Governor, but as a mother. Our children should get pure and nutritious food. If they keep eating like this, how will their minds function?”
Patel said she had arranged for samples to be collected in Lucknow to ensure there was no manipulation in the testing process. She directed that the reports be submitted to the university’s vice-chancellor.
She said a team from the Raj Bhavan had inspected the hostels and submitted a report, which she described as “extremely concerning”. The university administration was asked to address the shortcomings within three months.
The Governor specifically objected to food from outside entering the boys’ hostel.
“Stop purchasing food in tiffin. Make your own arrangements. If food has to be brought from the market, order it and have it prepared under proper supervision. If food comes in a tiffin, drugs can also come in it. Anything can come in a tiffin.”
The Governor also spoke about what she described as a decline in values among young women and changing family relationships. “Today, girls are even killing their husbands. If a daughter does not like something, she may even kill someone,” Patel said, without referring to any specific incident.
She noted that women were pursuing education, winning awards and progressing in life, yet many still facing difficulties in personal lives. “This is something the university and parents of girls need to think about.”
Emphasising the importance of joint families, Patel said that values, communication and respect were essential to sustaining family relationships. The Governor called for efforts to preserve the social and familial bonds that, she said, were increasingly coming under strain.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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