“The chair will have to go one day, then why be afraid?” Yogi narrated the story of Noida, which big Chief Ministers used to tremble after hearing.

Lucknow/Noida: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is known for his outspokenness. Just a day after gifting the International Airport to Noida, Yogi demolished the old ‘bad omen’ and ‘superstition’ due to which the former Chief Minister of the state was hesitant to even step into Noida. Yogi clearly said that he respects faith, but does not believe in superstition even an iota.

Fear of losing the chair and Yogi’s challenge

Yogi Adityanath refreshed old memories during a program organized at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences in the capital Lucknow. He told that when he became the Chief Minister for the first time, he was advised not to go to Noida. The reason was the famous superstition that whichever CM goes to Noida, his chair is snatched away. Yogi’s answer to this was very interesting. He said, “When the chair has to go one day, why get attracted to it? Is Noida outside Uttar Pradesh? I will definitely go there.” Yogi not only went there, but returned to power after completing his tenure and buried this myth forever.

Pain of 4 lakh home buyers and ‘pauper’ authority

Yogi told that when he reached Noida for the first time, the situation there was terrible. There were about 4 lakh people who had given their entire life’s earnings to the builders, but even after 15-20 years had passed, they had not got their houses. High rise buildings were turning into ruins. When he spoke to Noida and Greater Noida Authority officials, it came to light that he himself was in debt worth thousands of crores. Yogi quipped, “I thought where am I stuck, all of them are beggars. Now how can I expect them to provide rights to the people?”

Warning to builders and historical reform

The Chief Minister heard the views of both buyers and builders. Buyers were crying that they were paying bank EMIs but did not get homes, while builders were complaining of being ‘squeezed’ by the previous governments. Yogi took a strict stance and said that whether the people have the capacity or not, they will have to provide houses to the people. After this, stringent reforms were carried out and corrupt elements were driven out of the system. Today the result is in front of everyone – 4 lakh people have got their houses and the authority which was drowned in debt, is today making a profit (surplus) of Rs 6 thousand crores.

Sharp jibe at Akhilesh Yadav

Taking a dig at Akhilesh Yadav’s Dadri visit after the inauguration of Jewar Airport, Yogi said that those who did not come to Noida due to fear of superstition when he was the Chief Minister, are reaching there today for their divisive politics. Yogi alleged that the previous governments were ‘bottleneck’ (obstacle) in the path of development and with what mouth are they talking about development today. He said that today Noida has the world’s best infrastructure and investment.