LUCKNOW: UP CM Yogi Adityanath, once again, delivered a strong message on law and order, reiterating his government’s zero-tolerance stance against organised crime while focusing on Uttar Pradesh’s transformation into a major investment destination. Addressing the gathering at the launch of Nivesh Mitra 3.0, the Chief Minister warned that anyone known to be involved in mafia activities would face strict consequences. Without directly naming anyone, his remarks were widely seen as a reference to figures like Atiq Ahmed.
In his firm statement, the Chief Minister said that those who are attempting to run parallel power structures or engage in criminal activities will not be spared. While emphasising the continuation of UP’s “zero tolerance” policy, he said that anyone indulging in such acts should consider it as “booking a ticket to Yamraj”.
He further stated that before 2017, Uttar Pradesh faced a severe identity crisis, where mafia networks allegedly operated across multiple districts with political patronage. According to CM Yogi, law and order had deteriorated to the point where neither traders, women, nor common citizens felt safe.
While refraining from naming any party directly, the Chief Minister Yogi criticised earlier administrations, particularly hinting at the Samajwadi Party, and accused them of allowing criminal elements to flourish in Uttar Pradesh. He claimed that mafia groups used to work as extensions of political systems, weakening governance and public trust.
He asserted that after assuming office in 2017, his government took a decisive stand to dismantle the “mafia raj,” which, he said, has significantly changed Uttar Pradesh’s image over the past nine years.
CM Adityanath said that Uttar Pradesh has moved from being an avoided destination for investors to one of the most preferred investment hubs in India. Recalling the situation in 2017, he noted that investors were hesitant to come to the state. “People would meet us out of courtesy, but when invited to invest in Uttar Pradesh, many would remain silent or openly admit they had decided not to come here,” he said. However, he added that the scenario has now changed dramatically, with growing investor confidence and greater participation in state-led initiatives such as Nivesh Mitra 3.0.
Investment Push and Governance Reforms
The Chief Minister emphasised that the success of the “double-engine government” has played a key role in boosting industrial growth and easing the doing of business. He said trust is the government’s biggest strength. Earlier governments broke people’s confidence, but his government is working to rebuild it through honest governance.
Apart from industrial development, the Chief Minister also highlighted major progress in the agricultural sector. Referring to Uttar Pradesh as India’s “food basket,” he said that despite having only about 11 per cent of the country’s cultivable land, Uttar Pradesh now contributes nearly 21 per cent to total food grain production. In earlier years, farmers were forced into migration and distress, but policy interventions over the past nine years have strengthened the agricultural ecosystem, improving productivity and stability.
