Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Sunday, said that a good government’s priority was to serve people.

He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, stating that the double-engine government focuses on both development and the welfare of the poor, ensuring prosperity along with security, livelihood and respect for faith.

The chief minister performed the bhoomi-pujan and laid the foundation stone of the first veterinary science college of eastern Uttar Pradesh at Tal Nador, Gorakhpur. The construction of this college, to be built on 80 acres, will cost around Rs 350 crore.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Yogi said in the previous governments, people were troubled by goons and mafia and only a few benefited from the schemes, while the majority of the public kept watching helplessly.

He emphasised that under the current government, everyone was benefiting from the schemes without any discrimination.

The chief minister mentioned that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the strength of the new India is resonating worldwide. “Such a government has never been seen before, and it is essential to understand this and support the Modi government once again in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, realising the slogan of ‘Abki Baar, Chaar Sau Paar,” he stated.

Chief Minister Yogi assured the people that the veterinary science college being built at Tal Nador would be transformed into a university in the future, making Gorakhpur home to five universities. He mentioned that the college will not only focus on animal healthcare but also undertake breed improvements. “Fisheries related programmes will also be taken forward here. The college aims to provide education for aspiring veterinarians, offering them a new platform to build their careers,” he added.

The chief minister explained that the design of the college is inspired by the vision of King Shalihotra of Shravasti, who, in the third century, composed the Shalihotra Samhita and contributed to the prosperity of the livestock sector.

He further mentioned that Dakshinanchal, which remained underdeveloped for a long time, is now progressing rapidly under the double-engine government. An international stadium will soon be built in this area, along with Varanasi four-lane road and the College of Veterinary Sciences. The municipal corporation is planning to establish a 50-acre cow shelter near the college, he added.

Discussing the development of Gorakhpur, the chief minister mentioned that the fertiliser factory, which was closed during the Congress government, was restarted by the Modi government. “A new AIIMS has been established in Gorakhpur, and the Link Expressway is about to become operational. The establishment of large-scale industries in GIDA (Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority) has provided employment to 5,000 youths in the region,” he added.

The chief minister mentioned the consecration of Lord Ram’s idol in Ayodhya, comparing the transformation of the city under the present government with the situation during opposition governments, which ordered firing on the devotees of Lord Ram.  He noted that the blessings of the deity and prasad (offering) are also available.

Seeking support for MP Ravi Kishan Shukla, the candidate from Gorakhpur in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Chief Minister Yogi said that every party worker would go door to door posing as Ravi Kishan and ask for votes.

Before addressing the programme, the chief minister also inspected the model of the College of Veterinary Sciences.

During the programme, Chief Minister Yogi honoured beneficiaries of various schemes by presenting them certificates. The schemes included the Mukhyamantri Swadeshi Gausamvardhan Yojana, Nandini Krishak Samriddhi Yojana, Chief Minister Progressive Animal Husbandry Promotion Scheme, Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana, PM Awas Yojana.

In the foundation-laying ceremony, key attendees included the Minister of Livestock and Dairy Development Dharmapal Singh, MP Ravi Kishan Shukla,  MLA Vipin Singh, Mayor Dr Manglesh Srivastava, MLAs Rajesh Tripathi, Shriram Chauhan, Mahendrapal Singh, Pradeep Shukla, MLC, Bharatiya Janata Party state vice-president Dr Dharmendra Singh, district president Yudhishthir Singh and metropolitan president Rajesh Gupta.