Purvanchal synonymous with development: Dy CM

Before 2017, Purvanchal was synonymous with a land of mosquitoes, clogged drains, criminal activity and no electricity, said deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma, adding that this negative image did nothing to drive change in the political leaderships.
With no jobs, healthcare or educational facilities, mass migration was the only way out. People dreamt of development of this culturally rich and religiously important region but governments ignored it completely, he said, adding that even government officers considered postings in cities like Gorakhpur, Azamgarh and Ballia as a punishment.However, all this has changed in the course of 4.5 years and today, Purvanchal is synonymous with development, growth and economic as well as social security and progress. Sharma was speaking at the inaugural session of The Times of India Destination Uttar Pradesh Conclave in Gorakhpur. Today, criminals in Purvanchal do not dare to commit wrongdoing or clash with police. The gangsters of yesterday are all in jail now, he said.
“Five years ago, a report said that UP was number two in the country for manufacturing ‘tamancha’ but today, it is going to be manufacturing Brahmos missiles,” said Sharma, detailing the journey of UP over the past 4.5 years. Referring to rainfall over the past two days, Sharma said that earlier this rainfall would have left behind broken and waterlogged roads but today one could see that traffic was smooth.
On economic development, he said UP stands at second place in ease of doing business and industries from other countries are coming here. He mentioned how the state’s handling of pandemic was politicised and its moves questioned but UP managed to prove opposition wrong by doing record number of tests and administering vaccines.