Governor seeks legal say on Urdu varsity

Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav might flaunt his efforts at setting up an Urdu university as his minority vote plank ahead of bypolls and...

Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav might flaunt his efforts at setting up an Urdu university as his minority vote plank ahead of bypolls and blame the Raj Bhawan ‘‘conspiracy’’ for scuttling them but Governor T.V. Rajeshwar is not impressed. The Governor has sought legal opinion on setting up the varsity, with a lifetime pro-vice chancellor.

‘‘The ordinance, which was forwarded to Raj Bhawan for its approval on setting up the Urdu university, has been sent for legal examination,’’ an official source said. The state government is already complaining that the Governor has ‘‘delayed’’ things by not approving the ordinance which was sent to him after the Cabinet headed by Yadav gave its consent for setting up the Urdu university at Rampur, the parliamentary constituency of Jayaprada. The Assembly seat is represented by Yadav’s favourite and state Parliamentary

Affairs Minister

Mohammad Azam Khan. Yadav had wanted to make Khan the pro-vice chancellor of the university for life.

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It is this clause that has tripped up Raj Bhawan, sources said, as Khan will enjoy several executive powers. Fed up with the ‘‘deliberate delay’’, Yadav could not restrain himself for long in making the issue (Azam Khan) public. ‘‘A conspiracy is being hatched in the Raj Bhawan to scuttle formation of Urdu university but I am not the kind to take my decisions back,’’ the Chief Minister said at a meeting of Muslim scholars in Lucknow last evening. ‘‘Why are there objections in a section if a well-qualified Muslim like Azam Khan is being made the lifetime chancellor?’’ Yadav was apparently referring to the Congress’ opposition to the proposal.

Khan, meanwhile, has landed the CM in trouble with his remarks on the erstwhile ruler of Varanasi, calling him an agent of the British. While the royal family has expressed shock, the BJP has demanded the minister apologise to the family. ‘‘There is a conspiracy against Azam Khan but I am not going to take any action,’’ was all Yadav would say.