Saharanpur (UP), May 7 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said the state had moved away from the politics of “appeasement” and “fatwas” to a model focused on development and public welfare, while attacking previous governments for allegedly encouraging communal and caste-based politics.
Addressing a programme in Saharanpur after inaugurating and laying the foundation stones of 325 development projects worth Rs 2,131 crore, Adityanath said western Uttar Pradesh had undergone a major transformation under the “double-engine government”.
“Earlier, government funds were spent on cemetery boundary walls, illegal encroachments and caste-communal appeasement. Today, the same money is being used for roads, universities, sports colleges, RCC drains, expressways and the development of religious and tourism sites,” the chief minister said.
Referring to Saharanpur’s past image, he said the district was once “defamed due to riots, ‘fatwas’ and migration” but had now emerged as “a centre of connectivity, industrial growth and infrastructure development.” “From the culture of ‘fatwas’ to fast connectivity, Saharanpur has scripted a new chapter of development,” Adityanath said, citing projects such as the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, the Ganga Expressway, a proposed airport, industrial and logistics hubs, and the redevelopment of Maa Shakambhari Dham.
The chief minister said that before 2017, western Uttar Pradesh frequently witnessed riots, curfews and lawlessness, while traders lived in fear and youth migrated in search of opportunities.
“‘Fatwas’ and regressive practices had tarnished the image of Deoband. But after the formation of the double-engine government in 2017, Saharanpur acquired a new identity,” he said.
Adityanath also alleged that forces promoting “fatwa culture” and protecting “goons and mafias” remained silent whenever ‘Sanatan’ culture was attacked.
“Earlier, ‘fatwas’ were issued from Deoband on every small matter, even on how people should eat food. We decided that neither individual freedom nor national security should be compromised and immediately established an ATS centre here,” he said.
He warned that any person acting against the nation would face strict action.
“No anti-national element will be spared. Whoever tries to breach security or play with the future of youth will have to face consequences,” he said.
The chief minister also said that insulting “Vande Mataram” had now been brought under the category of cognisable offences.
“It cannot be accepted that someone lives in India, eats India’s food and sings praises of the enemy,” he said.
Adityanath said the projects launched on Thursday included 184 completed works worth Rs 500 crore and foundation stones for 141 projects worth Rs 1,631 crore covering Behat, Rampur Maniharan, Saharanpur city, Saharanpur rural, Nakur, Gangoh and Deoband areas.
Several ministers, MLAs and BJP leaders were also present at the event. PTI KIS APL APL
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