Lucknow, Jun 12 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for completing 12 years in office, saying the country had witnessed a transformative period marked by inclusive welfare, infrastructure development and improved governance under his leadership.
Addressing a media interaction here to mark 12 years of the Modi government, Adityanath said the world had acknowledged the Prime Minister’s leadership and India’s development journey.
“The entire country and the world witnessed on June 10 the celebration of Prime Minister Modi’s journey as India’s longest-serving elected Prime Minister. Leaders from across the world congratulated him and appreciated his vision and leadership,” he said.
Drawing a contrast between the pre-2014 period and the present, the chief minister said, “Every Indian, irrespective of caste, creed, region or language, has seen a changing India over the last 12 years.” “Today’s generation can take pride in being citizens of a New India that has continued its development journey despite numerous challenges,” he said, adding that India has asserted its strength globally and is emerging as a model for other nations.
Adityanath credited the Modi government with implementing a range of welfare initiatives, including financial inclusion through Jan Dhan accounts, construction of toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission, housing for the underprivileged, Ayushman Bharat health insurance and programmes such as Mudra, Stand-Up India, Start-Up India and Digital India.
“For the first time, the country has seen not only planning but also effective implementation by taking all stakeholders along and turning programmes into mass movements,” he said.
The chief minister reiterated Modi’s formulation that India effectively had “four castes” — the poor, women, youth and farmers — and said government policies had been centred on their welfare.
Referring to poverty alleviation, Adityanath claimed that around 25 crore people had been lifted above the poverty line during the Modi government’s tenure.
“If these programmes have benefited the country, Uttar Pradesh has been among the biggest beneficiaries,” he said, citing housing, sanitation, free LPG connections, health insurance and free ration schemes implemented in the state.
He said welfare initiatives had been extended without discrimination.
“For us, a poor person is simply a poor person. We do not see caste, religion or community. The poor must be empowered and become part of a sustainable development process,” he said.
Highlighting measures for women, Adityanath said programmes such as Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, maternal welfare schemes, women’s self-help groups and political empowerment initiatives had expanded opportunities for women.
He said women’s workforce participation in the state had increased from around 12 per cent to over 36 per cent and noted that 20 per cent reservation for women had been made mandatory in the Uttar Pradesh Police.
The chief minister also praised the Modi government’s efforts to promote India’s cultural and spiritual heritage, citing the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor, Mahakal Lok and the reconstruction of Kedarnath Temple.
“What had not happened for centuries, Modi ji made possible. He honoured India’s faith and cultural heritage,” he said in reference to the Ram temple. On internal security, Adityanath said the country had made significant progress in tackling Left-wing extremism.
“At one point, nearly 150 districts were affected by Naxalism. Today, areas once known for violence are witnessing development, tourism and investment,” he said, attributing the change to strong political will and governance.
Adityanath said the Modi government’s response to challenges ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to national security threats reflected a new confidence in governance.
He said India had emerged as a global example in COVID management through free testing, vaccination, treatment and foodgrain distribution, while measures such as surgical strikes, air strikes and Operation Sindoor demonstrated the country’s resolve to deal firmly with terrorism and threats to national security.
The chief minister also said Uttar Pradesh was aligning its development roadmap with the Prime Minister’s vision of a developed India.
Reiterating the state’s goal of becoming a USD 1 trillion economy by 2030, he said Uttar Pradesh aimed to become a USD 2 trillion economy by 2036 and a USD 5 trillion economy by 2047.
He said the state’s commitment was to build a ‘Viksit Uttar Pradesh’ alongside a ‘Viksit Bharat’ and an ‘Atmanirbhar Uttar Pradesh’ in line with the vision of a self-reliant India.
Congratulating the prime minister on completing 12 years in office, Adityanath said the period would be remembered for welfare-oriented governance, economic transformation, national security and the restoration of India’s cultural confidence. PTI CDN APL APL
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