Laying the foundation stone of an Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) Commando Training Centre at Deoband and launching a slew of development projects worth nearly Rs 200 crore in Saharanpur on Tuesday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that maintaining law and order across the state was never the priority of the previous governments and all they cared about was their own benefits and so they handed over the state’s dignity to criminals and terrorists.
Straddled across over 2000 square metre, the ATSCTC will provide training to around 100 commandos who will keep hawk-eyed vigil in the communally sensitive region of west Uttar Pradesh.
The UP government plans to set up such ATS centres at other places also, including Meerut, Bahraich, Shravasti, and Gautam Buddha Nagar.
“Earlier, cases against terrorists used to be withdrawn. Rioters, criminals and terrorists used to be rewarded by the previous regimes at their official residence. However, today, we are setting up ATS commando training centres to improve law and order situation in the state and boost its development. We have always worked with our policy of zero tolerance towards crime and criminals since Day 1,” Yogi Adityanath said.
Launching a fierce attack on Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav over his claims of building Ram temple in a year, the chief minister said that even chameleons would be ashamed of how the opposition leader changes his stance and statements seeking political advantage.
“It is shameful how blatantly the opposition parties change their statements when it comes to seeking advantages. After criticising Ram Janmabhoomi movement for years and opening fire on the devotees of Lord Ram, Akhilesh Yadav claims that he would have built Ram Mandir in a year,” he said.
Yogi Adityanath reiterated that riots had now become a thing of the past in Uttar Pradesh and cited a riot-free state during the five years of his rule.
“Rioters are now aware that if they are found involved, their seven generations will not be able to repay the damages caused due to their acts. Those who used to spread fear among people are now visiting police stations and begging for mercy while bulldozers are razing down the properties of the mafia and their henchmen. The action of bulldozers on the mafia have forced criminals to run away but some of their political masters are feeling troubled. However, these leaders never felt a thing when the land of the poor or a common person was grabbed by criminals. Action has been taken against every person who conspired to play with the dignity and the integrity of the state,” the chief minister added.
Yogi Adityanath said that under his regime, those who had forced people to migrate from Kairana had themselves migrated out of the state and the rule of law had compelled them to set up vegetable and fruit carts.
"Between 2017, several families in Kairana had migrated due to threats of extortion. However, in the BJP regime, those who forced others to leave Kairana, have now left the place because they know that they will have to pay dearly for their misdeeds," he said.
Taking a jibe at Akhilesh Yadav, the chief minister said that Saharanpur used to be far away for earlier governments, which is why the former chief minister hardly paid any visit to the place “but for me, Saharanpur holds the same importance as state capital Lucknow”.
Yogi also inaugurated dozens of new fire stations across the state on Tuesday apart from inaugurating and laying foundation stones for many development projects in Saharanpur.