CM flags absence of women at BJP event, urges youth to counter ‘negative narratives’

Gorakhpur: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday flagged the absence of women at a BJP youth outreach programme, urging organisers to ensure greater female participation even in events not exclusively meant for them.Addressing the ‘Yuva Samvad' organised by the BJP's Malviya Nagar unit, the CM said that despite the passage of the women's reservation law, there were no women or girls present at the venue. "Women attend female-centric programmes, but their presence should also be ensured in general events attended by men," he remarked, calling for a more inclusive approach.The CM also asked BJP's young cadre to be "fully prepared" to counter what he termed as "negative narratives" being spread by the opposition on social media, while maintaining decorum in language. He said that with the upcoming assembly elections, "baseless allegations" would intensify online and party workers must respond effectively at the booth level by highlighting the govt's achievements.Emphasising the role of youth, Yogi said India's young population has historically stood for "truth and tradition," drawing inspiration from figures such as Lord Ram, Lord Krishna, Swami Vivekananda and Subhas Chandra Bose. He added that Uttar Pradesh, with a large youth base, can drive transformative growth if channelled positively.Contrasting the present administration with the pre-2017 period, the CM alleged that "the state earlier faced frequent law-and-order issues, poor infrastructure and lack of employment opportunities. However, since 2017, the state's economy has nearly tripled, per capita income has risen significantly and around nine lakh govt jobs have been provided without corruption".Referring to development in Gorakhpur, he said investments worth over Rs 15,000 crore have led to the establishment of more than 300 industrial units, generating employment for over 50,000 youths. He also highlighted improvements in infrastructure, healthcare and connectivity. Touching upon global developments, he said geopolitical tensions have affected several countries, but India has maintained stability under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi.