Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued a stern warning on Wednesday, declaring that bulldozers would be deployed against anyone illegally occupying historical monuments, mythological sites, or government land, irrespective of their influence. The strong statement came during a discussion on the supplementary budget in the state Legislative Assembly.
Zero Tolerance on Encroachment and Mafia Raj
Addressing the House, the Chief Minister emphasized that creating a secure environment for every citizen remains the top priority of his government. He attributed the state's significant progress in infrastructure and employment over the past eight and a half years to this foundation of safety. "Whoever encroaches on any monument or mythological site, I will not spare them. If any mafia illegally occupies government land and turns it into a den of extortion or immoral activities, bulldozers will roll and no one can stop it," Adityanath asserted.
He contrasted the current scenario with the past, stating that Uttar Pradesh now issues a clear warning to criminals: reform or face elimination. The CM also took a dig at the opposition Samajwadi Party (SP), citing the case of SP MLA Pooja Pal, whose husband, MLA Raju Pal, was murdered in 2005. He questioned the SP's commitment to social justice, asking why they failed to deliver justice to her and highlighting that his government ensured it regardless of her political affiliation.
Budget Passage and Accusations of Past Corruption
Following the discussion, the Assembly passed a supplementary budget of Rs 24,496.98 crore. The CM stated these funds were necessary for new expenditure heads under expressways, power, health, technical education, and women empowerment. With this addition, the overall state budget for 2025-26 stands at a massive Rs 8,33,233 crore.
Adityanath launched a sharp attack on the previous SP government, accusing it of massive corruption and policy paralysis that turned UP into a 'BIMARU' state. He provided specific examples: The JPN International Centre (JPNIC), originally a Rs 175-crore project, saw over Rs 860 crore spent while remaining incomplete. Similarly, the Gomti Riverfront project's cost ballooned from Rs 167 crore to Rs 1,400 crore, also left unfinished.
He contrasted this with his government's work on the Purvanchal Expressway, which was redesigned to be 341-km long and 120-metre wide and completed at Rs 11,800 crore, significantly lower than the previous administration's estimate of Rs 15,200 crore for just 340 km of civil work. "This was not governance. This was a joke on the nation and its people. Corruption thrived because intentions were never clean," the CM alleged.
Showcasing Development: Infra, Jobs, and Economic Growth
The Chief Minister presented a detailed report card on his government's performance across various sectors:
Infrastructure: He stated that before 2017, UP had only one-and-a-half expressways. "Today that number has grown to 22. Put together, they form around 60% of the total expressways constructed in the country," he said. The state also now boasts the maximum number of metro rail networks and airports in India.
Employment and Economy: Adityanath claimed his administration has ensured the fair and transparent recruitment of approximately 9 lakh people in the government sector over nine years. Citing a Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) report, he said the state's unemployment rate has plummeted from 19% before 2017 to 2.21% at present.
He credited improved security for attracting investments, revealing that UP has received proposals worth about Rs 45 lakh crore in recent years, with Rs 15 lakh crore already implemented, generating jobs for 7 lakh youth. The state's Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector is now the country's largest, with 96 lakh units employing nearly 2 crore people.
Fiscal Health: The CM declared that Uttar Pradesh has transformed into a revenue-surplus state without imposing any new taxes, by plugging financial leakages. He highlighted that UP's share in the national GDP, which had fallen to below 8%, has now risen to around 9.5%. Per capita income has jumped from Rs 43,000 to Rs 1.20 lakh annually, and the credit-deposit ratio improved from just over 40% to about 65%.
Agriculture: Reiterating his government's focus on farmers, Yogi Adityanath said over Rs 2 lakh crore has been paid to sugarcane growers. The agricultural growth rate has surged from 8% to 18% in the last eight years.
Concluding his address, the Chief Minister affirmed that his government works for the welfare of all without discrimination, ensuring development funds reach all 403 assembly constituencies equally. He stated that the era of mafia rule, riots, and anarchy is over, replaced by security and progress that has won the people's continued mandate.
