Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday retorted sharply to Akhilesh Yadav’s warning that he will after 2027 order all “bulldozers” to Gorakhpur — the home district of the chief minister — saying not everyone has the heart and character to handle a bulldozer.

“It requires a strong heart and mind along with the strength of a bulldozer to operate one. Those who yield to rioters cannot run a bulldozer as their hands wouldn't measure up,” the chief minister said at a function in which he distributed appointment letters to 1,334 junior engineers, computer operators,and foremen here.

Yogi Adityanath made this remark responding to Akhilesh Yadav’s comment on Tuesday in which the Samajwadi Party chief  said “as soon as the Samajwadi government is formed in 2027, the bulldozers of the entire state will head towards Gorakhpur”.

CM Yogi Adityanath said, “Today these people have come back in a new form to mislead the public. Not everyone’s hands can fit on a bulldozer. It requires both heart and mind. Only someone who has a bulldozer-like capability and determination can operate it. Those who grovel before the rioters will not be able to stand in front of a bulldozer.

Emphasising that Rozgar Melas and the transparent recruitment process of the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission ensured equal opportunities for all, the chief minister said candidates from every district were represented among those appointed, with no distinctions made on the basis of caste or region.

“Talent and reservation rules were strictly followed in the selection process, instilling confidence in the integrity of the system,” he added.

The chief minister pointed out that the youth were previously denied appointment letters because the ‘Chacha and Bhatija’ were more concerned with outdoing each other in grabbing the bigger share of extortion, rather than having clear and honest intentions.

He drew a parallel between the havoc caused by these leaders and the chaos currently being inflicted by “man-eating wolves” in various districts, likening it to the state of affairs before 2017.

It is worth mentioning that under Chief Minister Yogi’s leadership, the past seven and a half years have seen a transformation in the appointment process. Conducted with transparency and fairness, this process has made over 6.5 lakh government appointments, a feat that was unimaginable seven years ago. This commitment to merit has allowed Uttar Pradesh to harness the energy and talent of its youth, propelling the state from a perceived hindrance to rapid advancement and the growth engine of India's development.

“Seven and a half years ago, this state had the seventh-largest economy in the country; today, it ranks second-largest. If our personnel work with equal dedication and apply the same level of transparency, integrity, and honesty to the appointment process, Uttar Pradesh can become the number one economy in the next three to four years,” Yogi remarked.

“Achieving this status means every hand will find work, every face will wear a smile, every daughter will be safe, every businessman will be respected, the farmers who feed us will be content, and prosperity will abound,” he added.

Chief Minister Yogi urged the newly appointed candidates to uphold the same transparency in their work that the state government has demonstrated in its appointment process. He emphasised the importance of avoiding delays in public-related tasks, highlighting the need to achieve the goal of ease of living.

“When the current administration took office, Uttar Pradesh ranked 14th in ease of business; today, it stands as an achiever state. Through various reforms, the state has made significant progress, transforming it from a place where no one wanted to invest into a destination that has received investment proposals worth Rs 40 lakh crore. These investments are expected to create jobs for 1.5 crore youth, revive traditional enterprises previously shuttered due to riots, and expand employment opportunities.” Chief Minister Yogi stated further.

On this occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, cabinet ministers Swatantra Dev Singh and Om Prakash Rajbhar, ministers of state Brajesh Singh, Baldev Singh Aulakh, Ramkesh Nishad, Vijayalakshmi Gautam and Rakesh Rathore Guru, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh and other officers were present.