Gonda. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 69 development projects costing more than Rs 520 crore in Gonda. In the public meeting organized on this occasion, he targeted the Samajwadi Party and said that SP is a curse for Uttar Pradesh. Whenever he came to power, an atmosphere of anarchy and destruction was created in the state. The Chief Minister alleged that in the previous SP government, restrictions were imposed on religious events and efforts were made to stop even the Kanwar Yatra. He said that BJP respects faith and brings change, while SP promotes miscreants.
The Chief Minister said that if anyone has any problem with the worship of Maa Durga, he can mourn in his home, but should not hinder the religious events of others. According to him, today festivals are being celebrated in a peaceful atmosphere in the state and Uttar Pradesh is free from curfew and riots.
Accused of banning pujas and festivals
The Chief Minister said that during the previous governments, controversies were raised regarding Durga Puja pandals in Devipatan Mandal. People also faced difficulty in getting permission for worship. He alleged that at that time complaints were made to ban religious events and the government used to take action on them. This time during Navratri, 67 thousand idols were installed in the entire state. Gonda Mandal officials were instructed not to involve people in unnecessary permission process for the installation of the idol.
Referring to the Kanwar Yatra, he said that earlier apprehensions were raised about taking out the Yatra in Western Uttar Pradesh and efforts were made to stop it. This year, about 4.5 crore devotees participated in the Kanwar Yatra between Ghaziabad and Haridwar. Navratri and other festivals also concluded peacefully. The Chief Minister said that earlier during festivals there used to be silence in the markets and people were worried about security, whereas now there is a festive atmosphere.
Mentioned about the incident of firing on Ram devotees
Referring to the firing that took place during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement in Ayodhya on November 2, 1990, the Chief Minister targeted the then SP government. He said that at that time bullets were fired on Ram devotees, while his government showered flowers on Ram devotees in Ayodhya and paved the way for the construction of Ram temple. He said that the Deepotsav organized in Ayodhya is not limited to Ramnagari only, but the light of its development is reaching Gonda and the entire Devipatan division. The tenth edition of Deepotsav will be held in Ayodhya on November 7.
Gonda's picture changed, projects worth Rs 16 thousand crore approved
The Chief Minister said that about ten years ago, it used to take two and a half to three hours to reach Maa Pateshwari Shaktipeeth located at Devipatan from Gonda. The condition of roads was bad, development work was stalled and the youth were facing employment crisis. He said districts like Gonda, Balrampur and Shravasti were characterized by backwardness and sanitation problems. In the cleanliness survey of the year 2016, Gonda was included among the dirtiest cities of the country.
Yogi Adityanath said that this area is associated with the bravery of Maharaja Suheldev, the bravery of 1857 freedom fighter Maharaja Devi Baksh Singh, the yoga tradition of Maharishi Patanjali and the Ramkatha of Goswami Tulsidas. The land with such historical and cultural heritage had lagged behind due to lack of development.
According to the Chief Minister, in the last nine and a half years, projects worth more than Rs 16 thousand crore have been approved for Gonda district, while projects worth about Rs 50 thousand crore have been approved in the entire Devipatan division. Many of these projects have been completed and work on others is ongoing. Investment proposals worth Rs 3,000 crore were received for Gonda in the UP Investors Summit of the year 2023. Work on many of these projects has already started.
He said that work is being done to provide income to farmers from stubble and cow dung also. Ethanol production is being promoted in various districts through compressed biogas.
Medical colleges and universities will increase opportunities for education.
The Chief Minister said that a medical college in the name of Maharaja Devi Baksh Singh has been constructed in Gonda and a medical college in the name of Maharaja Suheldev has been constructed in Bahraich. The construction of a medical college in the name of Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Balrampur is in the final stages. He also described the establishment of a university in Devipatan division as an important step towards the development of the area. He said that now the students of the area will get better education opportunities and they will not have to move forward with the help of copying.
Claim of development without discrimination in all 75 districts
Yogi Adityanath said that earlier the meaning of development was limited only to Saifai, whereas now development works are being carried out in all 75 districts, 350 tehsils, 825 development blocks and 762 municipal bodies of the state. He claimed that facilities like electricity, ration and cooking gas are now reaching the people without discrimination. He also talked about giving a free filled LPG cylinder to poor families before Diwali.
The Chief Minister said that poor families do not have to wander for treatment. Treatment facilities are available through Ayushman Card and if needed, financial assistance is also provided from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. He said that the government is trying to ensure that the youth of Gonda do not have to go to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai or Delhi for employment, rather they get work opportunities in their own district.
Mentioned about action against mafia and security arrangements
The Chief Minister said that now development plans in any area of the district including Gaura, Mankapur, Gonda, Mehnaun, Colonelganj and Katra will not be allowed to be disrupted due to mafia pressure. He claimed that action has been taken against the mafia in the state and women and businessmen have been arrested.