Spent nine years filling potholes left by previous govt: CM

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Lucknow: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said his govt has spent the last nine years strengthening the foundation of the state and “filling the potholes created by the previous govt.” He said that the time has come to take the state forward at the “speed of a bullet train.”

Addressing the annual business summit of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in New Delhi, the CM projected UP as a transformed state that has emerged from the shadow of poor law and order, mafia dominance and migration to become a major engine of India’s economic growth.

“Economic progress of any nation depends on its manufacturing strength. When industries and entrepreneurship grow, employment, investment and prosperity automatically follow,” Yogi said, stressing that no country can ignore its entrepreneurs.

The CM said India’s economic and strategic strength would pave the way for global welfare and humanity. Referring to the anniversary of the restoration of Somnath temple and the Pokhran nuclear tests conducted under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Yogi said nations that possess strength are better positioned to promote compassion and friendship.

“Only those who are powerful can lead with compassion and confidence. Merely pleading before the world will not earn respect,” he remarked.

The CM said UP once struggled with an identity crisis. “People used to distance themselves from the state. There were over 300 riots annually, businessmen faced extortion and industries were fleeing,” he said. Recalling the condition of roads before 2017, he remarked that travellers could identify the UP border simply by the potholes after dark.

Yogi said that his experience in managing the Gorakhnath Math helped him in governing the state.

“A math functions with discipline, time management and financial accountability. I implemented the same principles in governance,” he said.

He claimed that restoring the rule of law and ending “policy paralysis” were among the first priorities of his govt.

Citing Prayagraj as an example, he said there was a time when a mafia don could stop the convoy of the Allahabad high court chief justice. “Such incidents are no longer imaginable in the state,” he said.

Highlighting improvements in investment climate and infrastructure, the CM said the govt had focused on land banks, industrial policies and strengthening supply chains.

He said that the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme, launched in 2018, had helped local products gain global recognition through better design, branding and packaging.

He also highlighted the state’s tourism and religious economy, saying UP received 156 crore tourists last year, including devotees who attended the Maha Kumbh.

He said destinations such as Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mathura-Vrindavan, Vindhyachal and Buddhist circuits were being developed as world-class spiritual and cultural destinations.

Meanwhile, industry leaders at the summit appreciated what they described as the “Yogi model” of governance and development in UP.

CII director general Chandrajit Banerjee said UP had made remarkable contributions to India’s economic growth.

CII president Rajiv Memani described the changes in UP as a “phenomenal transformation”.