Union Home Amit Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earned respect for India globally through his vision and hard work while Yogi Adityanath had rid Uttar Pradesh of corruption and led the state on the path of development.
"Today I want to congratulate the UP chief minister as he has freed the state from goonda raj, mafia and anti-social elements, who once ruled western Uttar Pradesh," Shah said while addressing a public gathering after laying the foundation stone for Maa Shakumbhari State University in Saharanpur on Thursday.
Union Education Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party’s UP election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath along with other ministers were present in the function.
The Union home minister said that the previous regime in Uttar Pradesh used to declare sugar mills sick and then sell them off after pocketing huge commissions.
"Now, whether it is western or eastern UP, not a single sugar mill has been sold or closed down anywhere after the formation of BJP’s Yogi government. During the BJP regime, cane farmers have been paid 90 per cent of their dues and the remaining 10 per cent would be paid soon. The UP government has paid Rs 1.44 lakh crore to the cane farmers so far," he said.
Shah further said: "I was listening to Akhilesh ji's speech on the television sometime back where he questioned the law and order situation during the BJP regime in Uttar Pradesh. I would like to ask him what type of lens he uses to see such things. I have brought a comparison of Akhilesh's five years and Yogi ji's five years. Cases of dacoity have decreased by 70 per cent, robbery by 69 per cent, murder by 30 per cent, riots by 33 per cent and dowry killings by 22.5 per cent under Yogi ji's rule as compared to Akhilesh's regime. Akhilesh ji, under your rule there was a mafia raj in UP but today the BJP government of Yogi ji has done the work of restoring the rule of law here."
Talking about the development of the western region of UP, the Union home minister said that earlier it used to take eight hours to reach Saharanpur from Delhi, but now it took only three hours.
“The distance has reduced due to good roads. Not only the distance of the road has decreased, because of Modi ji, the distance of the heart has also decreased,” he commented.
"When I came to Saharanpur in 2017, the people here used to complain about migration because of criminal activities. Then I told them that once you form the BJP government, these forces will migrate and leave the area. This is the truth. It is a matter of great fortune and joy for me that Yogi ji invited me to lay the foundation stone of a university named after Maa Shakumbhari Devi on this holy and historical land,” he said.
Before ending his speech, Shah said: "Today I request the people of western Uttar Pradesh that once again your blessings are needed and your support is needed for the BJP. This time again the 300- mark has to be crossed in the UP assembly, which is only possible with your blessings.”