Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath slammed the opposition, accusing them of failing to honour Dr BR Ambedkar and other Dalit and backward leaders, despite their claims of protecting the Constitution.

Highlighting the BJP-led double-engine government’s commitment to Ambedkar’s legacy, CM Yogi, while participating in the budget discussion in the UP Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday,   stated, “Our government has taken several historic initiatives, including the construction of the Ambedkar International Centre and the establishment of Panch Teerth. We have also decided that all hostels to be built for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students in every district of the state will be named after Baba Saheb Ambedkar.”

The chief minister emphasised that this year marks the ‘Amrit Mahotsav’ of India’s Constitution. Criticising the opposition, he remarked, “The Samajwadi Party had multiple chances to govern but never built institutions in Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s name. Instead, they even removed the existing ones.”

Taking another swipe at the opposition, CM Yogi said that the Samajwadi Party only engages in political sloganeering, while the BJP government has taken concrete steps to honour great personalities. He pointed out that the BJP government built a hostel named after Savitribai Phule at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University in Lucknow for the benefit of Dalit students.

He also mentioned: “The Samajwadi government had removed Ambedkar’s name from the Kannauj Medical College, but we reinstated it.”

Discussing the development of historical sites, he said, “In Prayagraj, we built a grand corridor at Nishadraj Shringverpur, which was inaugurated by PM Modi. The Samajwadi Party was trying to encroach on this historic site, but we have preserved and developed it as part of our heritage.”

The CM accused the Samajwadi Party of obstructing the construction of Maharaja Suheldev’s victory memorial. He stated, “The Samajwadi government tried to halt the memorial, but our government has now completed grand memorials in Bahraich and Shravasti.”

He also highlighted the transformation of Saint Ravidas’s birthplace in Varanasi, saying, “They attempted to stop development at his birthplace, but we have built a magnificent statue and corridor in his honour.”

CM Yogi further criticised the opposition for hindering development of important historical sites. “The Samajwadi Party blocked the development of Maharishi Valmiki’s meditation site in Lalpur, we turned it into a model tourist destination,” he said.

Similarly, he accused them of obstructing progress at Rajapur, the birthplace of Goswami Tulsidas, adding, “Our government has carried out extensive development work there.”

He praised Modi’s decision to declare November 26 as Constitution Day as a tribute to Dr Ambedkar.

Announcing new welfare initiatives, CM Yogi stated, “On the 300th birth anniversary of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar, we are planning to establish seven hostels exclusively for women.”

He also revealed that to mark Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 150th birth anniversary, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to create employment zones covering 100 acres in every district.

Focusing on tribal heritage, he noted, “We have already built a tribal museum in Imlia Kodar, Balrampur, in honour of Bhagwan Birsa Munda’s 150th birth anniversary, and similar museums are being constructed in Mirzapur and Sonbhadra.”

He further stated that in order to celebrate the birth centenary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a digital library will be set up in every municipal body.