Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday criticised the previous Samajwadi Party (SP) government, accusing it of fostering a "one district, one mafia" culture. He asserted that his administration had replaced this with the One District, One Product (ODOP) initiative, aimed at boosting local industries and employment.
Speaking at an event under the CM Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan, where loans were distributed to 365 entrepreneurs, Adityanath said, “Every district had a mafia under the previous government. We replaced that with ODOP, ensuring global recognition for artisans and local products while generating jobs.”
Without directly naming former Chief Minister and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, he took a swipe at his leadership style. "If the leader of a state wakes up at noon, gets ready by 2 pm, and then goes on picnics with friends, when will he work? The public suffered while his associates looted the state," he remarked.
Adityanath highlighted infrastructure projects aimed at improving connectivity, stating that efforts were underway to reduce the travel time between Saharanpur and Delhi to just 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Discussing employment generation, he noted that the recent Holi recruitment drive led to 60,244 new police appointments, with over 12,000 of these positions going to women. "From 1947 to 2017, there were only 10,000 women in the Uttar Pradesh Police. In one drive, we added over 12,000 daughters to the force," he said.
The Chief Minister emphasized that his government had provided over seven lakh government jobs so far, ensuring a transparent recruitment process free from nepotism or regional bias.
Praising the ODOP initiative, Adityanath highlighted Saharanpur’s renowned wood carving industry, which now exports goods worth Rs 1,000 crore globally. He accused previous governments of neglecting artisans, stating, "Earlier, these craftsmen existed, but old governments were too busy using them as vote banks instead of providing better designs, technology, packaging, or export facilities."
The Chief Minister contrasted the current security situation with the past, claiming that Uttar Pradesh, once known for lawlessness, had become safer under BJP rule. "In the last eight years, security for daughters, traders, and the common man has improved. Only the mafia feel unsafe now," he said.
He asserted that before 2017, the state struggled to attract investment, with traders fleeing due to lawlessness. "Now, Uttar Pradesh is the second-largest economy in India, and it won’t take long to become the largest," he added.
Adityanath also highlighted the economic impact of the recently concluded Maha Kumbh, which saw over 66 crore devotees visit Prayagraj. He praised the opportunities it created for locals, from tea stall owners to photographers. "A tea stall owner said he earned Rs 50-60 lakh per day. Those who initially questioned the event’s scale eventually came to witness it themselves," he said.
Concluding his address, the Chief Minister reiterated his commitment to public welfare, stating that the BJP’s "double-engine" government at the Centre and state prioritised national interest and economic growth.
(With inputs from agencies)
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