Lucknow,

14 May (HS): Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that just as the countrymen

unitedly faced the crisis during the global pandemic of COVID-19, the situation

in West Asia requires moving forward with the same collective responsibility

and national spirit. This is a global crisis that could impact fuel, food, and

fertilizer supplies. At such a time, it is every citizen's responsibility to

strengthen the country's self-reliance campaign by adopting alternatives like

public transport and renewable energy. The Chief Minister was addressing the

Times of India's 9 Defining Years of Transforming UP conclave at

Hotel Taj in Lucknow on Thursday.

National

interest is paramount in times of crisis: Citing Prime Minister Modi's appeal,

the Chief Minister called for adopting systems like renewable energy,

alternative energy sources, carpooling, metro, electric vehicles, and shuttle

buses to save fuel. He called for developing community kitchen models based on

cow dung gas plants in rural areas through the more than 1.5 million cattle

protected in over 7,700 cow shelters, thereby reducing dependence on LPG. The

Chief Minister said that national interest should be paramount in times of

crisis. It is the responsibility of every citizen to stand with the nation and

contribute. He criticized those making negative comments based on incomplete

information and said that the Prime Minister's appeal should be read,

understood, and concluded only after careful consideration. If the country

survives, we all will survive; if the state remains safe, we all will be safe;

and if the country prospers, we all will progress towards prosperity.

India

succeeded in preserving its existence despite invasions: The Chief Minister

said that the economic prosperity seen in the world today has its roots only

400-500 years old, whereas in India this prosperity existed much earlier. But

when we stopped trusting our resources, knowledge, and innovation, and

neglected research and development, we began to lag behind. At that time,

pilgrimage was the main form of tourism. The tradition of carrying water from

Rameshwaram for the Jalabhishek at Kedarnath and water from Gangotri for the

Abhishek at Rameshwaram connected the north and south. The twelve Jyotirlingas

and the Char Dhams bound the entire country together. Life was organized in

such a way that no one became a burden on anyone. This was the reason India

became a world leader. Despite thousands of years of invasions, atrocities, and

exploitation, India succeeded in preserving its existence and culture, a feat

rarely seen elsewhere in the world.

Uttar

Pradesh was turned into a question state before 2017: Describing the situation

before 2017, the Chief Minister said that Uttar Pradesh had been turned into a

question state. Youth faced an identity crisis, businessmen were migrating,

farmers were committing suicide, riots broke out during festivals, hooliganism

and mafia rule prevailed. Nepotism, corruption, and government apathy were

rampant. Upon forming the government, we held meetings exclusively with cabinet

colleagues for the first month, from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight. Presentations were

taken from every department, and action plans were formulated. The treasury was

empty, and there was no money even for employee salaries, yet we established a

clear policy: no nepotism, no regionalism. Today, development in Uttar Pradesh

is not limited to Lucknow, Varanasi, or Gorakhpur. Equal development is taking

place in all 75 districts and 58,000 gram panchayats. Electricity is being

supplied equally everywhere. A zero-tolerance policy towards crime and

criminals is strictly enforced. There is zero tolerance on corruption also.

When

the government sleeps, inspector raj prevails: The Chief Minister said that

previously, no one even thought about Uttar Pradesh's MSME sector. Everything

was left to God's mercy because the government was sleeping under the covers.

When the government sleeps, inspector raj prevails. Disheartened and harassed,

artisans had migrated or were barely scraping by. But today, 9.6 million MSME

units are actively operating in the state, employing approximately 30 million

people. The state currently has a land bank of 75,000 acres. The first

requirement for investment is security, the second is a land bank, and the

third is a clear policy. Now, there is no policy paralysis in Uttar Pradesh. We

have developed separate sectoral policies for 34 sectors. Now, there is policy,

intention, and the will to move forward with determination. The result is that

Uttar Pradesh has become one of India's best investment destinations.

Women

can now return home without fear even at midnight. The Chief Minister said that

today, young people no longer face an identity crisis. Previously, people would

retreat ten steps at the mention of Uttar Pradesh, but today, they view people

from Uttar Pradesh with respect. Women can now return home without fear at 6

p.m., 8 p.m., 10 p.m., or even at midnight. Women are working night shifts in

offices and industries. Girls are fearlessly attending school. We have tripled

per capita income. In 2017, it was Rs. 43,000, which has now increased to over Rs.

1,20,000. The state's annual budget, which was around Rs. 2.5 lakh crore, has

now reached Rs. 912,000 crore. The GSDP has increased from Rs. 12 lakh crore to

Rs. 36 lakh crore. During this period, we did not impose any new taxes, but

instead accelerated development and welfare schemes for the poor. Housing is

being provided to 6.5 million poor people, toilets to 26.1 million, free

rations to 150 million, and health care up to Rs. 5 lakh under Ayushman Bharat

to 100 million. Today, banks are also investing the most in Uttar Pradesh

because they believe their money is safe here.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi