Yogi contrasts SP era with present, says UP now symbol of development and culture
Lucknow, October 26: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday enumerated his government’s achievements to entrepreneurs eager to invest in the state, stating that work now operates through a single-window system.
Referring to the chaos and unrest during the Samajwadi Party government, he said that today, the state has become a festival state, a land of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna’s playful pastimes, as well as the creator of knowledge and the Vedas and Puranas.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was addressing the GCC Innovation Summit 2026 on Monday, aimed at giving new impetus to global innovation, investment, and technological development in Uttar Pradesh. The event was held at The Centrum Hotel.
On this occasion, various entrepreneurs and the state government signed MoUs regarding investment. At the event, State Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Nandi welcomed Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and all the guests.
He stated that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the country and the state are progressing rapidly. Simplified policies have been formulated to encourage greater investment in the state, and investors and entrepreneurs have found a secure environment throughout the state. This is the reason for the investment climate in Uttar Pradesh.
Entrepreneurs at the event shared their experiences with the Yogi government’s work and stated that adapting to the Yogi government’s pace now poses a significant challenge for industries. He added that investments generated through the summit will provide jobs to the state’s talents, eliminating the need for them to travel far and wide.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while highlighting the various religious characteristics of Uttar Pradesh, said that it is the land of Ramrajya, as Lord Shri Ram was born in Uttar Pradesh and Lord Krishna performed all his divine acts on this land. Furthermore, 88,000 sages composed the Vedas and Puranas three thousand years ago in Naimisharanya, just 70 km from Lucknow, and showed the nation and the world the path of religion.
He said that the Maha Kumbha takes place in Prayagraj, the confluence city of Uttar Pradesh, and similar events take place at four other places in the country: Haridwar, Nashik, Trimbakeshwar, and Avantika (Ujjain). Similarly, Kashi has been a city of knowledge since ancient times. Justice was delivered at these places. Whether it was a royal dispute or a matter involving scholarship, the judges would approach the scholars of Kashi, along with these ancient religious sites in their respective regions, and the verdicts delivered here would be universally accepted. Today, Kashi, Prayagraj, Vrindavan, and Ayodhya receive the largest number of devotees, and this has significantly boosted the economy. People’s incomes have increased as they find work.
Before 2017, Uttar Pradesh had no identity.
Referring to the deteriorating law and order situation and mafia rule under the governments before 2017, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the then government could not even have imagined such a summit. They once considered holding it in 2015-16, but not in Uttar Pradesh, but in a hotel in Delhi. Imagine, if Uttar Pradesh lacked the courage to hold a summit, how would investment come from?
He said that there was no electricity, water, or road infrastructure. Crime was rampant, and criminals controlled the government. Uttar Pradesh had completely forgotten its identity. In any case, the then Chief Minister believed more in power than in God and avoided visiting Noida due to superstition, whereas our government has accomplished many significant things in Noida.
Addressing entrepreneurs, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, “Today, when Uttar Pradesh is discussed, people ask us what Uttar Pradesh means. I give them only one answer: it is a state of unlimited possibilities.” Their question is, “How can we believe this?” So I say that this isn’t the time for questions; now is the time to seek answers, and the answers can be seen in the progress and pace of Uttar Pradesh.
He elaborated on the state government’s ambitious One District, One Product scheme. He said that today, every district in the state is identified by its product, and many products have become global brands. Before 2017, there were only 130 startups in the state, but now their number has increased to over 25,000. Over 30 million people are employed in MSMEs. Would anyone believe it, but we have done it. Before 2017, the One District, One Mafia was the rule, and that was the identity of the state.
Chief Minister Yogi said that before 2017, Jewar was such a crime capital that people would venture out only from sunrise to sunset, but in the last ten years, the rule of law has been established. An international airport was built in Jewar and renamed Narendra Modi International Airport to commemorate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25 years of public service. Several important initiatives, including the establishment of an MSME park, a film city, and a semiconductor chip manufacturing unit, have been undertaken, and these projects are progressing rapidly. Similarly, efforts are underway to attract investment in all major cities in the state. Many major companies have established their units here. Experts from IIT Kanpur are assisting in the establishment of many of these institutions.
He elaborated on the location and objectives of the Defense Corridor built in the state capital, Lucknow. He stated that this was done to ensure that the youth here could find good jobs and that Uttar Pradesh could contribute to the nation’s security and defense.
He added that a variety of defense products are now being manufactured here. Chief Minister Yogi also detailed his government’s work during the COVID-19 pandemic and his commitment to providing employment and livelihood opportunities to all, highlighting the challenges he faced in providing jobs to people in need and boosting their incomes. Heads of major companies and entrepreneurs were present on the occasion.
Chief Minister interacted with several entrepreneurs, seeking their views and encouraging them.
