Lucknow: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said law and order in Uttar Pradesh has witnessed a significant transformation since 2017, asserting that there was a time when even police officers were unsafe in the state.
Addressing a function at Lok Bhawan in Lucknow after distributing appointment letters to 930 newly recruited computer operators (Grade-A) selected by the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board, the chief minister recalled the 2011 Moradabad incident in which an IPS officer was allegedly beaten nearly to death by rioters.
“Before 2017, even police officers were unsafe. In Moradabad, a DIG-rank officer was assaulted by rioters, who left him assuming he was dead. Imagine, if IPS officers and senior police officials were not safe in the state, then the safety of ordinary citizens, women, daughters, sisters and traders was merely an illusion,” he said.
Yogi added that “We ensured strict punishment for all those accused in the case.”
He said the state had once witnessed a system where files concerning IAS and IPS officers remained pending for years. “Even Yamraj could not have moved those files forward,” he remarked. He stated that discussions on implementing the police commissionerate system had been ongoing since 1972, but no one was able to implement it. The matter remained buried in files. “After our govt took charge, the system was implemented in seven districts. It is a part of police reform. Those who raise questions about the commissionerate system are the ones who have no understanding of police reforms or policing. These are the same people who have no concern for the convenience and security of ordinary citizens,” Yogi said.
The CM stated when UP Police placed public service at the center of its functioning, it earned a new reputation across the country. “Now, no one points fingers at UP Police. The new identity of UP Police is not based merely on numbers. In the last 9 years, UP Police has worked at a rapid pace to achieve the goal of good governance envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, becoming an example of model policing. The newly selected personnel are going to have a major role as smart police personnel and digital warriors,” Yogi said.
The CM referred to the period before 2017 and told the newly selected candidates that they would have been dependent on their parents at that time. At that age, one does not worry much, but look at newspapers, magazines and clippings from 10 years ago. “Ask your parents and teachers what Uttar Pradesh was like before 2017 and what the law and order situation was. What was the public perception about the state and the police? On average, riots occurred every second or third day. Disturbances would take place before festivals and curfews would continue for months. Today, however, everyone is receiving security. No curfew has been imposed anywhere in UP for the last nine years,” he said.
The CM informed, “during that period, people of UP had stopped imagining any improvement. After the double engine govt took charge, action was initiated. Political pressure was also exerted to protect criminals, but the efforts of govt’s prosecution wing resulted in such severe punishment for those criminals that several generations of theirs would now think twice before committing crimes.”
The CM said govt ensured transparency in the state’s recruitment commissions and boards. Recently, an examination for 35,000 police constables was conducted, in which 28 lakh youths participated. Before that, an examination for 41,000 Home Guards was held. Without recommendations and without discrimination, the recruitment process of 2.25 lakh police personnel has been completed transparently over the last 9 years. “This is the beginning of establishing the rule of law and achieving the goal of good governance,” he said.
