“Not a ₹ given, yet crying theft”—Yogi Adityanath on opposition’s Ram Temple allegations
Lucknow, August 03: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath spoke to media persons on Monday before the start of the monsoon session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
He reprimanded the opposition on the issues of the poor, youth, women and farmers, saying that all these are the priorities of the double engine government.
The Chief Minister also questioned the leaders of opposition parties on the theft of offerings for the Ram Temple, saying that those who are raising the Ayodhya issue had lathi-charged and fired on Ram devotees for chanting Jai Shri Ram. They made a despicable attempt to obstruct the Ram Temple by raising an army of lawyers in the court against it. Those who did not spend a single penny for the construction of the temple are talking about donation theft for the Ram Temple. The nation and the world are witnessing their double standards.
Chief Minister Yogi made a major announcement that the government will implement the Outsourcing Commission within a week and a half, along with ensuring a minimum honorarium. A supplementary budget has been used to ensure that Anganwadi and Asha workers, cooks, and village watchmen receive appropriate honorariums and that their services serve the state’s interests.
The Chief Minister launched a scathing attack on the opposition parties, saying that those who were responsible for the farmers’ interests, who denied them water for their fields, allowed middlemen to dominate their rights, and committed the sin of making their lives miserable by making them insecure, are now adding salt to the farmers’ wounds by talking about them. Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, several schemes are underway, including the Prime Minister’s Crop Insurance Scheme and the Prime Minister’s Agricultural Irrigation Scheme, which provided additional irrigation to 2.4 million hectares of land in Uttar Pradesh. Farmers are now cultivating three to four crops. Horticultural crops are being exported to various countries through pack houses.
Yogi attacked the Samajwadi Party on the issue of farmers and listed the benefits his government had provided to sugarcane farmers. He stated that between 2007 and 2017, 29 sugar mills closed, and 21 were sold at throwaway prices. However, under his government, sugarcane payments worth over ₹3.23 lakh crore have been made. More than 105 out of 122 sugar mills are making sugarcane payments to farmers’ accounts every four or five days. During the Samajwadi Party’s tenure, sugarcane payments were pending for 10 years. Instead of protecting farmers’ interests, they forced them to commit suicide and migrate. At that time, even farmers’ tube wells were not safe. Today, the government is providing free electricity to 1.6 million tube wells. While there were technical problems with the portal at some locations, the department has been directed to ensure fertilizers are available to farmers.
The Chief Minister stated that this session is extremely important for us, so the House’s time should be optimally utilized. He expressed hope that the opposition will abandon the politics of negativity and contribute to the state’s development and prosperity, ensuring the peaceful conduct of the legislative proceedings in the interest of the state and the development of 25 crore citizens.
Chief Minister said that the legislature is an important medium for conveying the voice of the common people to the government and administration. In a parliamentary system, the legislature is the best platform for discussion, review, and resolution of issues concerning the poor, farmers, youth, and women. Every public representative can raise their constituency’s problems and seek solutions from the government. It has always been the priority of the BJP-led NDA government to ensure the optimal use of this platform.
Yogi said that the government has been able to achieve excellent performance in the last nine years through dialogue and plans developed after reviewing the issues raised by public representatives. This has not only changed the perception of Uttar Pradesh but has also made it possible to transform it from a sick state to a revenue surplus and economic breakthrough state. Discussions will also be held on the steps taken by the government in the past nine years for the welfare of youth, the safety, respect, and self-reliance of women, for the transformation of farmers’ lives and for bringing a smile to their faces, and what the government is currently planning to do.
Chief Minister said that if the double-engine government has, in nine years, brought more than 60 million people above the poverty line and into the middle class, then the legislature is its focal point, as policies are formulated here. Discussions and debates take place beforehand. The legislature is also a powerful medium for discussing Sustainable Development Goals, education, health, poverty alleviation, farmers, investment, employment, etc.
Yogi said that this month of Sawan is extremely important for farmers, for youth seeking admission to schools and colleges, and for Kanwar pilgrims. Best wishes to all the talented young people who embody youthful energy, those who have enrolled and those who are moving forward to pursue new jobs. When farmers work hard day and night, the land of Uttar Pradesh yields gold. Uttar Pradesh’s share of India’s total agricultural land is only 11 percent, but our farmers contribute 21-22 percent to the country’s total food grain production. Today, farmers’ lives have undergone a profound transformation. In line with Prime Minister Modi’s vision, farmers’ income has more than doubled. Discussions should be held on other issues that bring prosperity to farmers’ lives. The Chief Minister also praised farmers’ contributions to the reforms.
Yogi said that the lives of Uttar Pradesh’s female workforce have also undergone profound transformation. The female workforce, which was 12 percent in 2017, has now increased to over 37-38 percent. The state government has set a record by providing jobs to over nine lakh youth, with women representing over 20% of these.
Chief Minister also paid tribute to the faith of Shiva devotees during the Sawan month and said that devotees across the country and state are offering their devotion to Shiva in the enthusiastic atmosphere of chanting “Har Har Bam Bam”. Millions of Shiva devotees have already departed from western Uttar Pradesh to collect Ganga water from “Har Ki Pauri” in the holy shrine of Haridwar. The government, local administration, voluntary, social, business, and religious organizations have initiated numerous programs for their welcome, security, and convenience. Members of the Legislative Assembly and Council will also participate in these events starting August 7.
Yogi Adityanath urged all public representatives to work towards maintaining healthy discussions in the House. Government employees, outsourced, and contract workers have demonstrated their diligence over the past nine years, and the government is also working for their welfare. Cashless transactions were provided to instructors, Shikshamitras, and all teachers in basic, secondary, and higher education. The government also increased the honorarium of instructors and Shiksha Mitras.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, Brajesh Pathak, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna, Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, and Minister of State for Agriculture Baldev Singh Aulakh were present at the press conference.
