Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 325 projects worth Rs 2,131 crore in Saharanpur. He stated that a district once known for riots, fatwas, and migration had now become a symbol of development, connectivity, and industrial progress.
Attack on Fatwa Culture
The Chief Minister accused those who allegedly promoted a culture of fatwas and protected criminals and mafia elements of remaining silent when Sanatan culture was attacked. He said that earlier, fatwas were issued from Deoband on every matter, including how one should eat food. Now, BJP MLA from Deoband, Kunwar Brijesh Singh, has been pushing for personal freedom and national security. Acting on his proposal, the government has established an Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) center in the area. ATS commandos are maintaining constant vigilance, and any anti-national element daring to raise its head will certainly be finished.
National Symbols and Opposition
Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for elevating the status of 'Vande Mataram', the CM said that anyone insulting India's national symbols will now face punishment. He added that people who live in India and eat India's food cannot be allowed to praise the enemy. Hitting out at opposition parties, the CM stated that Uttar Pradesh's politics was no longer about appeasement but about satisfaction and inclusive welfare. Public funds that were earlier spent on graveyard boundary walls, encroachments, and caste-communal appeasement are now being used for roads, universities, sports colleges, RCC drains, expressways, and the development of religious and tourism destinations.
Development Projects
Listing out various development projects for the region, the CM mentioned the redevelopment of Maa Shakambhari Dham, the Delhi-Dehradun expressway, Ganga expressway, proposed airport, sports college, smart city projects, and industrial-logistics hubs. He said, 'The policies of the double-engine government have transformed both the image and destiny of Western Uttar Pradesh. Forces that obstruct development try to divide society through caste-based and appeasement politics. Now, people stand firmly with development, security, and nationalism. When good governments are elected, the results are positive, and Saharanpur has emerged as a living example of this transformation.'
Transformation of Saharanpur
Yogi said that between 2013 and 2016, Saharanpur came to be known for riots, curfews, migration, and chaos. The district lacked major education centers, sports facilities, or industry. Deoband had gained notoriety due to fatwas and regressive practices. In 2016, all of West Uttar Pradesh was burning, but nobody gave it attention. After the formation of the double-engine government in 2017, Saharanpur acquired a new identity. The district's world-renowned woodcraft industry received a new platform, and today Saharanpur has carved out a distinctive identity for itself. It is rapidly emerging as a major hub of development and connectivity.
Future Prospects
The CM said that a major industrial and logistics hub is being developed in Saharanpur between Delhi and Dehradun, which will generate employment for thousands of youths. The Noida International Airport at Jewar, the country's first Rapid Rail in Meerut, and the nearly 600-km-long Ganga expressway from Meerut to Prayagraj have transformed West Uttar Pradesh. Also, an elevated highway is being constructed to ensure smooth travel for devotees visiting Maa Shakambhari Dham in all weather conditions.
