Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that Uttar Pradesh was earlier known for ease of doing crime and now it had earned the distinction of being the state for ease of doing business.
Addressing a gathering after unveiling the statue of former chief minister of UP, Kalyan Singh, in front of the office of the Lucknow Nagar Nigam, on Sunday Rajnath Singh said the law and order was robust in the state either during the tenure of Kalyan Singh or today under Yogi Adityanath government. He said the present state of law and order in Uttar Pradesh was also discussed in other states.
Addressing Kalyan Singh as his `bada bhai’ (big brother), Singh said he had very cordial relations with the former chief minister who was also the governor of Rajasthan.
The statue of the former chief minister has been installed in front of the underground parking at Jhandi Park opposite the office building of the Lucknow Nagar Nigam.
Rajnath Singh was nostalgic while he discussed his tenure as education minister in the first Bharatiya Janata Party government led by Kalyan Singh in 1991. Singh said he presented the draft of the anti-copying bill in the cabinet twice but it could not be adopted due to difference of opinion.
“I later met the then Chief Minister Kalyan Singh and explained to him the significance of the proposed law and he agreed and later the bill was passed by the UP Assembly,” Rajnath Singh said.
Singh said he accompanied Kalyan Singh on tour to different districts of UP.
Rajnath Singh said the checks on copying in examinations was an important measure of the state government in the interest of youth. “Kalyan Sing is a symbol of the long political journey from ‘sadak to shikhar,” the defence minister said.
He said the contribution of Kalyan Singh in the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya needed no elaboration. “When Kalyan Singh was informed about the demolition of the disputed structure in Ayodhya, he was at his residence. When I reached the chief minister’s residence, Kalyan Singh said the BJP government would soon be dismissed and president’s rule would be imposed and he was ready to face the consequences,” the defence minister said.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said throughout his life, Kalyan Singh was devoted for the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya and his dream would be realised the day the temple at Ayodhya is inaugurated.
Sandip Singh, the Minister of State for Basic Education and grandson of Kalyan Singh, also addressed the meeting.