Yogi targets SP in Mainpuri, says UP has shed ‘identity crisis’ after 2017

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused the Samajwadi Party of creating an identity crisis in Mainpuri before 2017, highlighted his government's development and law-and-order record, and launched 111 projects worth ₹682 crore in the district

Mainpuri (UP): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday hit out Samajwadi Party in its traditional stronghold stating that people of the district had to face “identity crisis” before 2017. His remarks came while addressing a public function where he launched and laid the foundation stones of 111 development projects worth about Rs 682 crore for the Mainpuri and Karhal Assembly constituencies.

Mainpuri, represented in the Lok Sabha by Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav’s wife Dimple Yadav, is considered a bastion of the Samajwadi Party and has long been regarded as one of the party’s political strongholds.

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Claiming that the BJP government has transformed the image of the district, he alleged that Mainpuri had once suffered because of the policies of previous governments.

“There was a time when people used to get frightened by the name of Mainpuri. Youth from Mainpuri would not get rooms in hotels, they were not allowed to stay in dharamshalas, and even an honest person found it difficult to get a rented house in other cities simply because he was from Mainpuri. Today, if a youth, a farmer or a trader from Mainpuri introduces himself anywhere in the country, people are eager to show him respect,” he said.

Without naming the SP initially, Adityanath alleged that previous governments had created an “identity crisis” for Mainpuri and Uttar Pradesh by depriving youths of jobs, farmers of prosperity, traders of security and artisans of employment.

The chief minister alleged that recruitment under previous governments was influenced by money and recommendations. “There was a time when jobs were advertised, but they did not go to deserving youth. Faces were looked at, money was looked at. A poor young person who could not pay would not get the job. Today, under the BJP’s double-engine government, vacancies are filled fairly.

Youth from Mainpuri and Etawah also receive appointment letters with pride and contribute to building a new Uttar Pradesh and a new India,” he said.

Adityanath claimed that Uttar Pradesh has moved from being a “BIMARU” state to a “revenue surplus” state and emerged as one of the country’s top three state economies.

“Today, Uttar Pradesh is no longer a BIMARU state. It is a revenue-surplus state and has emerged as the growth engine of India’s economy,” he said, adding that there was no shortage of funds for stadiums, museums, auditoriums, roads, bypasses or other infrastructure projects.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks, Adityanath said, “Modi ji has said that there are only four castes in the country — the poor, the farmers, the women and the youth. If we work for the welfare of these four, India will become a developed nation.” The chief minister also hit out at SP over law and order, alleging that traders were once afraid to invest, and families were forced to send their daughters outside the state for education due to the lack of security.

Claiming that law and order had improved, Adityanath said Uttar Pradesh has become an “Utsav Pradesh” (state of festivals). “Today, our state is no longer a disturbance-prone state; it has become a state of festivals. There are no curfews, no riots. Everything is well in Uttar Pradesh,” he said.

He claimed that around nine lakh youths had received government jobs under his government, traditional industries had been revived, benefiting over 3.25 crore people, and improved law and order had attracted investment proposals worth Rs 50 lakh crore. The chief minister also accused the SP of practising divisive politics.

“They will divide you in the name of caste and region, but those who divide society are not your well-wishers. They are enemies of society and the nation,” he said.

Calling for the development of Mainpuri, Adityanath said, “If Uttar Pradesh has to become a developed state, Mainpuri must become developed. Every assembly constituency and every development block in Mainpuri and Karhal should progress.” The chief minister said he visited Mainpuri in July to review rainfall, water availability and crop conditions and assured that development proposals submitted by local public representatives would be taken up on priority.

Targeting the SP over religious processions, Adityanath alleged that earlier governments had sought to stop the Kanwar Yatra and other Hindu religious events.

“Today no one can stop the Kanwar Yatra. We have said the Kanwar Yatra will be taken out with full enthusiasm. No one will stop it. The government will provide all facilities and Shiv devotees will undertake the yatra in a disciplined manner,” he added.