Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday asserted that the BJP-led double-engine government has delivered more progress in eight years than previous governments achieved in their combined 22-year tenure.
Speaking at an event marking eight years of BJP governance in Uttar Pradesh, CM Yogi credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for the state’s transformation and expressed gratitude to the state’s 25 crore residents for their continued support.
Reflecting on the situation eight years ago, he remarked that Uttar Pradesh was facing an identity crisis, with farmers committing suicide, youth struggling for employment, and deteriorating law and order.
“The same state machinery exists today, yet a mere change in governance has brought remarkable progress,” he said.
He stressed that Uttar Pradesh, once classified among the BIMARU (lagging) states, has now become the “growth engine of the nation’s economic development.”
Highlighting the state’s agricultural transformation, CM Yogi noted that agriculture was previously neglected but has now flourished with the introduction of modern technology and better resource management. He pointed out that the state’s agricultural growth rate jumped from 5 per cent in 2016-17 to over 13.5 per cent, contributing to a 28 per cent increase in Uttar Pradesh’s GDP.
He credited schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi, and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana for improving farmers’ livelihoods. Additionally, he mentioned a 20 per cent surge in food grain production in the last year alone.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the revival of the sugar industry, which was on the verge of collapse before 2017. He said that the government revived six closed sugar mills, established three new ones, expanded 38 others, and ensured that 122 sugar mills are now operational. Payments to sugarcane farmers have exceeded Rs 2.8 lakh crore since 2017, surpassing the total payouts made by previous governments over the past 22 years, he added.
Comparing the present administration’s achievements, he said, “Whatever was done in 22 years by the previous governments, our double-engine government accomplished in just eight years.”
On law and order, CM Yogi recalled the frequent riots, rising crime, and insecurity that plagued the state before 2017.
“There used to be a riot almost every other day. Neither daughters nor businessmen were safe. Today, Uttar Pradesh has made significant strides in law and order, and the successful Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj stands as proof,” he said.
He attributed the improvement to systematic police reforms, pointing out that when the BJP government assumed office, 1.5 lakh police posts were vacant and recruitment processes were riddled with corruption.
“For the first time, over 1.56 lakh police personnel were recruited transparently, and another 60,200 new recruitments have been completed,” he stated. In total, over 2.16 lakh police personnel have joined the force over the last eight years.
CM Yogi also emphasized infrastructure development within the police department. He said that before 2017, ten districts lacked police lines, and barracks were in poor condition. Police lines have now been established in all ten districts, barracks have been constructed at police stations, and training capacities have been expanded significantly.
The Chief Minister further mentioned the reinstatement of 54 PAC battalions scrapped by previous governments, the formation of three women battalions, and the creation of five new PAC units across the state.
He also highlighted the establishment of a Special Security Force for airports, metros, and vital institutions, as well as the setting up of cyber police stations in every district. He noted that the response time of emergency service 112 has been reduced from 25 minutes 42 seconds in 2017 to just 7 minutes 24 seconds today.
CM Yogi lauded the installation of over 11 lakh CCTV cameras across the state, calling it a major step towards making Uttar Pradesh the first state in India to implement a cyber city concept, in line with the Supreme Court’s directive following the Nirbhaya incident.
Reaffirming his government’s commitment to safety, good governance, and development, he said the transformation witnessed in the past eight years is a testament to what a determined administration can achieve.
— IANS
