U.P. is witnessing a model of renaissance under BJP regime, says Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh was considered a burden due to “economic distress, poor infrastructure, and lawlessness” before 2017, but has emerged as India’s “economic powerhouse” under his regime, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said while responding to the discussion on the Governor’s address in the Assembly on Friday, the fifth day of the Budget Session.

Highlighting the State’s “economic rise, infrastructure growth, improved law and order, and public welfare measures”, Mr. Adityanath said, “What was the situation before 2017? Mafia and criminals nurtured by the patronage of power were running a parallel government. Goonda tax, illegal extortion, and the ‘one district, one mafia’ trend were being promoted. The law had become the fiefdom of a few. Curfews and riots were common. Festivals and celebrations were synonymous not with faith, but fear. Earlier, neither daughters nor businessmen were safe. Police morale was shattered. The State had become synonymous with anarchy and instability. Today, Uttar Pradesh is in a state of celebration, not turmoil.”

‘Fear-free environment’

The Chief Minister said “zero tolerance towards crime and criminals” is clearly visible in Uttar Pradesh today. “Strong law and order has transformed the State from a fear zone to a faith zone. Curfew culture has been replaced by zero-tolerance culture. Riots are now being replaced with festival and temple economy. Now, there is neither curfew nor riots… everything is fine in U.P. Today, women enjoy security and businesses enjoy a fear-free environment. More than 219,000 police personnel have been recruited, with 20% of these positions mandated for women. Before 2017, Uttar Pradesh Police had 10,000 women personnel; today it has increased to nearly 44,000,” he said.

Mr. Adityanath said the nine-year journey of the State under the BJP government is one from crime and chaos to discipline, from curfew to the rule of law, from riots to celebrations, from problems to solutions, and from distrust to confidence. “This is a model of renaissance. It combines heritage and development… both going hand in hand. This renaissance of faith began in Uttar Pradesh. The State is the epicentre of India’s faith. It would be no exaggeration to call it the soul of India’s faith,” he said.

On the State’s economic rise, Mr. Adityanath said, “Uttar Pradesh’s share of the country’s GDP was once only 8%. Today, it has risen to nearly 9.5%. We have also succeeded in keeping fiscal deficit below 3%. Today, Uttar Pradesh is progressing at double speed due to its clear agricultural policy. Previously, costs were high, production was low, and middlemen dominated. Today, cost is low, and production is high. By eliminating middlemen through DBT (direct benefit transfer), the government is directly providing the price of the produce to the farmer,” he said.

Targets Opposition

Hitting out at the Opposition, the Chief Minister said those opposing the National Song, Vande Mataram, have no right to reside on Indian soil. “The appeasement politics of the Samajwadi Party and the Congress has stifled development and cultural revival of our State.”

Speaking on the Prayagraj Magh Mela controversy involving Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the CM said “any random person cannot use the Shankaracharya title”. “No one is above the law in this country. If the Samajwadi Party wants to worship him, they’re free to do so,” he said.