CM was addressing a public meeting in Gonda on Monday on the occasion of inauguration and foundation stone laying of 69 development projects worth over ₹520 crore. He stated, “The tenth edition of Deepotsav will be organized in Ayodhya on November 7. Deepotsav will be held in Ayodhya, but its light, in the form of development, will reach Gonda and the entire Devipatan division. Development visible in Gonda is the result of this very transformation.”

CM stated, “The highest number of Durga Puja pandals in Devipatan division had been embroiled in disputes. Even permission to worship was not granted. If a follower of Sanatan Dharma worshipped Maa Durga in their home, an SP worker or a butcher would oppose it and submit an application, after which the SP government in Lucknow would impose a ban. This Navratri, 67,000 idols were installed across the state. I specifically instructed the Gonda division that there should be no need to seek permission to install idols. Whoever wishes to keep an idol in their home should be allowed to do so. If any SP worker or butcher has a problem, tell them to mourn in their own home, but not to trouble anyone.”

CM Yogi stated, “Samajwadi Party government did not allow Kanwar Yatra to pass through western UP. They created obstacles to festival observance and celebrations. They said the Kanwar Yatra would lead to riots. This year, 4.5 crore devotees participated in Kanwar Yatra between Ghaziabad and Haridwar. The atmosphere remained peaceful across the state during Navratri as well. Enthusiasm, excitement, and prosperity are everywhere. UP is free from curfews and riots. Earlier, disturbances would begin during festivals, markets would become deserted and everyone would remain worried about their safety.”

Referring to the incident of November 2, 1990, CM stated, “On this day, during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement in Ayodhya, the then Samajwadi Party government opened fire on Ram devotees, leaving them bloodied. We paved the way for the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya by showering flowers on Ram devotees. We advanced Ayodhya’s development and, through Deepotsav, ensured that the development generated by the lamps lit in the sacred land of Lord Ram would reach Gonda as well.”

He stated, “Ten years ago, it took two and a half to three hours to travel from Gonda to Maa Pateshwari Shaktipeeth in Devipatan. Roads had turned into potholes, insecurity loomed, development work had stalled, young people were unemployed, and Annadata Kisan were distressed. Women’s and traders’ safety was at risk. Gonda, Balrampur and Shravasti were counted among the most backward and dirtiest districts in the country. In 2016 Swachh Survekshan, Gonda was among the dirtiest cities in country.”

CM stated, “This is the land that witnessed valor and bravery of Maharaja Suheldev, whose power, inspired by Maa Pateshwari Shaktipeeth, helped annihilate foreign invaders and the valor of Maharaja Devi Baksh Singh, an immortal freedom fighter of the First War of Independence in 1857. The identity of this sacred land, associated with the yoga tradition of Maharishi Patanjali and Ram Katha of Goswami Tulsidas, had been endangered by the lack of development. The land that showed the world the light had itself been left in darkness.”

Questioning the insensitivity of previous governments, CM stated, “At that time, headlines in media would report that so many children had died in Gonda, Balrampur and Bahraich due to an unknown disease. Under the government of that time, life of a poor person’s child had no value on its agenda. There were no schemes for the poor. They considered playing with the future of young people their birthright.”

CM stated that over the past nine and a half years, projects worth more than ₹16,000 crore had been approved for Gonda district alone. Projects worth approximately ₹50,000 crore had been approved for entire Devipatan division. Some projects had been completed, work on others was underway and proposals for new projects had also been sought. At UP Investors Summit held in 2023, Gonda alone received investment proposals worth ₹3,000 crore. Projects worth hundreds of crores of rupees had already been implemented on the ground, while work on the remaining projects was also being expedited. He added, “Farmers will now also receive a price for stubble and cow dung. Work on ethanol production through Compressed Biogas is being advanced in every district.”

CM stated, “A medical college named after Maharaja Devi Baksh Singh has been constructed in Gonda and a medical college named after Maharaja Suheldev has been constructed in Bahraich. Construction of the medical college named after revered Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Balrampur is in its final stage. Establishing a university in the Devipatan division is also part of this transformation. Earlier, those who ran examination cheating rackets obstructed the establishment of a university because it would have destroyed their business. Now, children here will not cheat in examinations but will receive quality education and become part of the mainstream of development.”

CM stated, “Earlier, development meant only Saifai. Today, development is taking place in all 75 districts, 350 tehsils, 825 development blocks and 762 urban local bodies of the state. Electricity is now available not only in Rampur and Saifai but also in Gonda, Balrampur and Bahraich. Rations are not distributed based on one’s identity or appearance; they are provided free of cost to every poor and needy person. LPG connections are also being provided without discrimination. Before Diwali, we are going to provide one filled LPG cylinder free of cost to poor families.”

CM stated, “The poor no longer have to wander from place to place for treatment. They have the Ayushman card provided by Prime Minister Modi. Whenever necessary, the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund also makes sufficient funds available for treatment. The recruitment process has been carried out honestly, as a result of which young people from Gonda are also receiving appointment letters. Now, investment will generate employment and job opportunities in Gonda itself. Our effort is to ensure that young people from Gonda do not have to go to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai or Delhi in search of employment, but instead find work in their own district.”

CM stated, “Whether it is Gaura, Mankapur, Gonda, Mehnaun, Colonelganj or Katra, whenever a development project comes to any of these places, no one can hijack it along the way because we have crushed the mafia. Strong arrangements have been made to ensure the safety of women and traders. Anyone who breaches security has already been given an ultimatum: jail or hell. There is no third place for them.”

He stated, “The younger generation has not witnessed the misrule of Samajwadi Party. Ask your elders what a curfew is and what disturbances are. Ask them how the homes of the poor were looted, how the rights of the poor were robbed, how the employment opportunities of young people were plundered and how the safety of women and daughters was compromised. SP is a curse for the state. Whenever it has come to power, it has always wreaked havoc.”

CM stated, “An action plan has been prepared to distribute government appointment letters to one lakh young people over the next six months. Appointment letters have already been issued to 12,000 to 15,000 young people. The government will issue appointment letters to 4,500 sub-inspectors this week. Immediately after Diwali, appointment letters will be issued to 35,000 police constables, followed by 42,000 Home Guards. The recruitment process for another 25,000 to 30,000 posts is also being advanced in the education sector, departments associated with subordinate services and other departments.”

He stated, “Players who win medals for the country at Olympic Games, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games have been directly appointed to the post of Deputy SP. Sportspersons are also being appointed in other departments. Agniveers returning after four years of service will receive a 20% reservation in police, PAC, Home Guards, Forest Department, Prisons, and various other state government departments. Arrangements will be made to appoint them through direct recruitment without any examination.”

CM stated, “BJP is a party that respects your faith. Funds are being provided for the revival, beautification and improved connectivity of centers of faith such as Baba Prithvinath Temple, Swaminarayan Chhapia and Varahi Devi Temple. Earlier, this money was spent on occupying land in the name of graveyards. Today, these funds are being used for the development of centers of faith so that no poor person’s land is occupied and religious sites receive due respect.”

CM appealed to people to participate in Deepotsav to be held in Ayodhya on November 7. He stated, “Light a lamp in your village, home and at a nearby center of faith. Also give a lamp or a gift to a poor family, a Dalit settlement, a slum or any disadvantaged person or person with a disability. Your gift will be a gift offered directly to God.”

On the occasion, Gonda MP and Union Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh; Mankapur MLA and former minister Ramapati Shastri; Gaura MLA Prabhat Verma; Tarabganj MLA Prem Narayan Pandey; Colonelganj MLA Ajay Singh; Mehnaun MLA Vinay Kumar Dwivedi; Members of the Legislative Council Awadhesh Singh and Manju Singh; District Panchayat Chairperson Ghanshyam Mishra; and Bharatiya Janata Party District President Iqbal Bahadur Tiwari were present.

CM Yogi inaugurates and lays foundation stones for 69 development projects worth over ₹520 crore in Gonda

Appointment letters to 35,000 police constables and 42,000 Home Guards will be issued after Diwali: CM

CM says, “If SP workers and butchers have a problem with the worship of Maa Durga, mourn in your own homes, but do not trouble anyone”

BJP respects faith and brings change, while SP brings criminals: CM

On November 2, 1990, SP government opened fire on Ram devotees; we paved the way for construction of Ram Mandir by showering flowers on them: CM

Earlier, development meant only Saifai; now all 75 districts of the state are witnessing development without discrimination: CM

We have crushed the mafia; those who breach security have only two destinations, jail or hell: CM

A provision will be made to appoint Agniveers through direct recruitment without any examination