Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 83 development projects worth more than Rs 396 crore in the Shravasti and Bhinga Assembly constituencies during a programme held at Sitadwar in Ikauna, Shravasti. The Chief Minister also visited the exhibition and distributed cheques, keys, study kits and Ayushman Cards to beneficiaries of various government schemes.

CM Yogi observed, “Development requires dedicated time, continuous review and active follow-up by public representatives. The development visible in Shravasti today is the result of constant monitoring by public representatives and the government.”

CM Adityanath launched a sharp attack on the opposition and said, “The tradition of Maharaja Suheldev deserves respect, but the previous governments had started a fair in the name of foreign invader Salar Masud Ghazi. After our government came to power, I made it clear that no fair would be organised in the name of any foreign invader. If anyone does so, action will be taken against them. This is independent India, and foreign invaders cannot be honoured here.”

Targeting the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, CM Yogi remarked, “They do not appreciate the traditions of Bhagwan Buddha, the Jain Tirthankars, Maa Janaki, or the legacy of Maharaja Suheldev. Instead, they wanted to organise the Ghazi Miyan fair, and that is why they have met this downfall.”

Targeting Samajwadi Party National President Akhilesh Yadav, he remarked, “Nine years ago, Babua became the Chief Minister. He would wake up at 12 noon, get ready by 2 p.m., then Chachchu would tutor him for some time, and by evening he would head to the gym. After that, he remained occupied with his gatherings. Where was the time to think about the state? During that period, every district in Uttar Pradesh was under the grip of the mafia and goondaraj. Land mafia, mining mafia, forest mafia and cattle mafia were active, while the poor were deprived even of basic facilities such as ration, pensions, healthcare, housing and toilets. Corruption dominated recruitment for jobs, and farmers and artisans were neglected. That is why Shravasti became one of the 100 most backward districts in the country.”

The Chief Minister noted, “Shravasti has undergone a complete transformation over the past nine years. Every poor family has received a house under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana or Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana, while health security is being provided through Ayushman Bharat and the Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Yojana. Nearly 16 crore people in the state are receiving free ration, 65 lakh poor families have been provided houses, 3 crore families have received toilets, and 2 crore families have been given free gas connections. Around 9 lakh youth have secured government jobs without recommendation or corruption, whereas earlier the recruitment process was dominated by the chacha-bhatija duo and a syndicate of illegal collections.”

The Chief Minister pointed out, “Earlier, the youth of Shravasti, Bahraich, Balrampur and Gonda had no opportunity to secure government jobs. At that time, the Saifai syndicate controlled the recruitment process, and appointment letters were issued only after parchi and kharchi. Because of this, many recruitment processes had to be stayed by the courts. Today, the situation has completely changed. Youth from Shravasti are also getting government jobs without discrimination in Uttar Pradesh Police recruitment,

teacher recruitment, Anganwadi recruitment, and examinations conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission and the Subordinate Services Selection Commission.”

He added, “Investment is no longer confined to the NCR; it is reaching districts such as Shravasti as well. Local products have received a boost through One District One Product, and the government is also taking Shravasti forward under the One District, One Medical College initiative. Today, the district is no longer affected by the menace of mosquitoes and the mafia, and Aspirational District Shravasti is emerging with a new identity as an inspirational district.”

The Chief Minister underlined, “From the very first day, the government has adopted a policy of zero tolerance towards crime and criminals.”

Referring to Chhangur, who was arrested in Balrampur in a religious conversion case, he stated, “He was misleading people while operating under a false identity. He was arrested and sent to jail, and action was taken against his illegal and immoral activities by using bulldozers.”

CM Yogi asserted, “Anyone who tampers with the safety of daughters and traders will have only two destinations - jail or jahannum. Today, Uttar Pradesh enjoys an atmosphere of security, investment is increasing, and youth are getting opportunities for employment and self-employment. Development became possible in Shravasti because the people elected a BJP MLA from here, who consistently pursued development works. If Bhinga too had elected a BJP MLA, even bigger projects could have been brought to the district.”

Appreciating Shravasti’s development journey, the Chief Minister said, “Shravasti has taken a giant leap on the path of development. Among the country’s 500 Aspirational Development Blocks, one Development Block of Shravasti secured the first position in terms of development, giving the district a new identity. Since the change in government, Shravasti has advanced rapidly on the path of development. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision is to harmonise heritage and development, and the government is working in that direction. If both MLAs from the district belong to the BJP, development will gain even greater momentum under the double-engine government, accelerating employment, investment and new projects.”

CM Yogi informed that work is underway on the Shravasti-Balrampur-Gonda-Ayodhya four-lane corridor to improve road connectivity for Shravasti. He further noted, “A four-lane corridor between Bahraich and Lucknow has also been approved at an estimated cost of about Rs 7,500 crore. The government will make every effort to extend this route up to Shravasti so that the district gets direct four-lane connectivity with Lucknow and Ayodhya.”

The Chief Minister observed, “There was a time when Shravasti barely had an identity, and Shravasti, Balrampur and Bahraich were counted among the most backward regions of the state. Today, medical colleges are being established in Bahraich, Gonda and Balrampur, while work is also progressing towards a university and a sports college in the name of Maa Pateshwari. Projects such as highways, railways and airports will provide fresh momentum to the region. Women are being made self-reliant through women self-help groups, and efforts are being made to increase farmers’ incomes.”

Referring to the Saryu Canal National Project, CM Yogi pointed out, “This project, launched in 1970, remained incomplete for years, but the double-engine government completed it and ensured irrigation facilities reached farmers. Only the double-engine BJP government has the ability to implement development projects within stipulated timelines.” He also called upon party workers to take these achievements to every section of society.