Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Sunday, appealed to the youth not to get misled by the propaganda of opposition parties against the Agnipath scheme as it was in their interest.
He pointed out that the scheme, which has been lauded by the world, would not only see employment of 10 lakh youths and earn them social respect, but also enable them to tackle challenges of life more effectively with discipline and training, as well as equip them with skills that will easily get them jobs in the police force.
Addressing two rallies in Azamgarh district to seek votes for Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Dinesh Lal Yadav ‘Nirahua’ in the parliamentary bypolls for the Azamgarh constituency, Yogi Adityanath said that the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Uttarakhand had already announced their intention to absorb Agniveers into the police force once they retire from forces after four years of service.
“According to the scheme, 25 per cent of the Agniveers will continue to be in the forces, while the rest will get suitable employment opportunities in the police force. Our government has already announced that priority will be given to the appointment of Agniveers in the police force of UP,” Yogi said.
Describing Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samajwadi Party as ‘Rahu and Ketu’ for the development of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi said that despite having got opportunities to run the state four times and thrice respectively, these parties only played havoc with the life and careers of youth by allowing corruption and encouraging all sorts of bad practices in society.
“Their whole politics revolved around family and selfish ends. Development of state, employment of youth, well-being of farmers as well as safety and security of women and citizens were never on their agendas,” Yogi remarked, and asked people not to allow their district to become a centre of terror.
Yogi said that despite having given two chief ministers, Azamgarh had remained deprived of development and was known across the country for all wrong reasons.
“Youths of Azamgarh were going through an identity crisis. They were denied accommodation in hotel rooms and rented flats. There was no development and violence and riots were common,” he said.
Yogi added that the SP and the BSP only cheated people of Azamgarh and it was the BJP government which was working for the development of the district and its people ever since it took over.
“Today, Azamgarh’s connectivity has increased with the opening of Purvanchal Expressway and in two hours a man of Azamgarh can reach Lucknow. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the expressway in 2018 and inaugurated it in November last year. Purvanchal Expressway will also lead to building of industrial clusters and creation of job opportunities on a large scale for the youth. Besides, road networks are being expanded to facilitate movement of people from Jaunpur, Ballia and Ghazipur. Air services are also likely to be started in Azamgarh soon. Maharaja Suheldev University has already been set up and students of Azamgarh will not have to go to Jaunpur, Kashi and Gorakhpur to get a degree,” Yogi said.
He added that 35 lakh people of Azamgarh were getting a monthly double dose of ration under the double engine government since the outbreak of COVID-19.
“Fifteen crore people are getting free ration even today in UP. We have given five lakh government jobs while 1.61 crore have got self-employment opportunities. We are providing houses, toilets, free ration, electricity and safe drinking water to people. We have also provided free Covid tests and vaccines to the people,” he said.
“I visited Azamgarh thrice during COVID-19 pandemic and met even COVID-19 patients while SP leader Akhilesh Yadav did not visit his constituency even once during the pandemic and even misled the nation on the vaccine, calling it a BJP vaccine and undermining its importance in protecting lives of people,” Yogi pointed out.
Yogi said that Varanasi was touching new heights of development with the renovation of Kashi Vishwanath Dham and opening of international airport while Gorakhpur stood transformed today in five years of BJP rule in the state.
Yogi also talked about the proposed film city in Noida which would offer employment opportunities to scores of youth from the state.