LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while addressing an event in Saharanpur as part of the CM Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan, slammed the previous Samajwadi Party (SP) government for fostering lawlessness. He claimed that the era of “one district, one mafia” under the SP regime has been replaced by the One District, One Product (ODOP) initiative under his government.
Adityanath alleged that during the previous SP government, every district was dominated by a mafia, which created a climate of fear and instability. “We have replaced the mafia with ODOP to empower artisans and promote local products globally,” he declared. As part of the government’s effort to support small businesses, loans were distributed to 365 entrepreneurs during the event.
The CM pointed to Saharanpur’s flourishing wood carving industry as a success story of the ODOP scheme. He highlighted that the district now exports woodwork worth Rs 1,000 crore annually, creating jobs and enhancing the local economy.
Adityanath also emphasized his government’s focus on improving infrastructure and reducing travel time. He announced that efforts are underway to reduce the travel time between Saharanpur and Delhi to just 1 hour and 45 minutes, significantly boosting connectivity and easing transportation for commuters.
Without directly naming Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Adityanath took a dig at the former leadership. “If a state’s leader sleeps till noon, takes hours to get ready, and then spends the day on outings with friends, when will they find time to work?” The public suffered while his associates looted the state,” he said, in a veiled attack on Yadav’s governance style.
Highlighting his government’s commitment to employment generation, Adityanath announced the recruitment of 60,244 police personnel during Holi, including opportunities for the youth of Saharanpur. He specifically noted the focus on women empowerment, stating that over 12,000 of the newly recruited officers were women.
“Through a single recruitment campaign, more than 12,000 women were added to the police force. Before 2017, the total number of female officers in UP was only 10,000,” he highlighted. The CM further stated that his government has created over 7 lakh government jobs so far, ensuring a fair and transparent hiring process without favoritism or regional bias.
Adityanath also praised the recently concluded Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, which saw over 66 crore devotees participating. He highlighted the economic boost the event brought to local businesses.
People from various sectors seized opportunities – some started tea stalls, others sold vegetables, some provided taxi services, while others transported passengers by boat. The event generated crores of rupees in earnings,” he said.
In a direct attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Adityanath accused her of mismanaging communal tensions during Holi. He pointed out that while Banerjee’s government imposed curfews during festivals, UP celebrated Holi and Jumma prayers peacefully without restrictions.
He also criticised Banerjee’s earlier remark, where she allegedly called the Mahakumbh a “festival of death” following a stampede on January 29 that claimed at least 30 lives. Adityanath countered by highlighting that the massive event in UP was managed without any major incidents of crime.
The Chief Minister expressed confidence in UP’s economic growth, claiming that the state, once considered ‘sick’ with its economy ranked sixth or seventh, is now the second-largest in the country. He asserted that with the current pace of development, UP is on track to become India’s largest economy.
Adityanath concluded by stating that good governance requires “the right intent, a positive approach, teamwork, and respect for public sentiment.” He reiterated his government’s commitment to fairness, transparency, and growth-driven policies.
