Without naming any political party, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attacked the previous Uttar Pradesh government, saying those associated with a particular party brandished tamanchas prior to 2017 while today youths work on tablets.
Addressing a public meeting in support of BJP mayor candidate Shweta Mishra ahead of the civic body elections at Ramlila Maidan in Unnao on Tuesday, Yogi said: “Before 2017, traders were exploited by extortionists but today they are benefitting from PM SVANidhi scheme. Prior to 2017, criminals regined terror but today safe cities are being made.”
He added: “Earlier, there were heaps of garbage, but cities are now becoming smart. There is no place for mafia/criminals, crime, corruption, and the corrupt in UP.”
The CM said although Unnao is known as the land of ‘pen’ and ‘sword’, it also conveys the message of intimacy.
“In the 2022 assembly elections, you made all the candidates victorious by showing belief in the double-engine government. I thank all of you for this,” he said while addressing the gathering of people.
The chief minister said that civic elections are not small for the party but are meant to add the third engine to the existing double-engine government in the state to accelerate state’s development.
Asserting that India is evolving into ‘New India’, Yogi said the world now views India with hope unlike before 2014 when people looked at the country with suspicion.
“People had no respect for India. Foreign enemies would threaten to attack India. The youths used to face an identity crisis. The country’s reputation suffered as scams after scams were unearthed. The perception of India has changed since 2014. People now look at the youth of India with respect. India is making progress in every field today,” Yogi said.
The CM also criticised the previous governments for creating a law and order crisis due to which girls had stopped going to schools. “You have seen UP change in the last six years. The traders do not have to cough up extortion. There are no curfews and no riots anywhere in the state, because all is well in UP. The state is now known for its festivals, such as Rangotsav in Barsana, Dev Deepawali in Kashi, and Deepotsav in Ayodhya,” Yogi said.
“This is the new Uttar Pradesh. Government facilities are being given as per eligibility. We consider every citizen of UP to be a member of our family, and no one can claim that there is caste or religious discrimination. Rangdari na firauti, ab UP nahi hai kisi ki bapauti (Neither extortions nor kidnappings for ransom take place and UP is no longer anyone’s fiefdom,” he added.
The CM said that the vision of the PM is the mission of UP. “The Ganga Expressway is being constructed to connect western UP to central and eastern UP. People of Unnao will also benefit. With the construction of the Ganga Expressway, one can reach Delhi in just six hours and Prayagraj in two hours,” he added.