Yogi launches BJP’s civic polls campaign: ‘Decide if you want gunshots in streets, or prayers’

Addresses rallies in Saharanpur, Shamli, claims end of violence, fear; says vote for BJP will give power of 3-engine sarkar

The UP CM said that because of frequent riots during the tenure of previous governments, a major part of the state used to remain under curfew, but now UP is know for the Kanwar Yatra, during which thousands of people march on the streets of west UP without any fear in offering prayers. (Express Archive)

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LAUNCHING THE BJP’s campaign for the coming urban local body elections in Uttar Pradesh scheduled on May 4 and 11, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath again spoke about “ridding the state of mafia elements and criminals” as his government’s achievements.

Addressing a gathering in Saharanpur, Adityanath said, “Unlike under governments before 2017, law and order prevails in UP now and this is why our state has become a model to follow for other states. The [UP] governments before 2017 used to remain busy in engineering riots and mafia elements had an upper hand during the tenure of previous governments. But now people are fearless.”

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The CM added that because of frequent riots during the tenure of previous governments, a major part of the state used to remain under curfew, but now UP is know for the Kanwar Yatra, during which thousands of people march on the streets of west UP without any fear in offering prayers.

“Humein tay karna hai ki galion mein apradhiyon ki goliyon ki dardarahat honi chahiye ya shehron mein bhajan ka prawah. Humein tay karna hai ki yuvaon ke hathon mein tamanche hon ya tablets (We have to decide whether we want streets in our cities reverberating with sounds of bullets fired by criminals or free flow of prayers to God. We have to decide whether we want country-made pistols in the hands of our younger generation or tablets),” said the CM.

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He also urged the gathering that they have to decide whether they want goons asking for extortion money or an administrative arrangement which works for the welfare of the people. “Ab UP kisiki bapauti nahi hai. Yahan rangdari aur firouti nahi mangi jati (UP is not anyone’s personal fiefdom now. Nobody asks for extortion money or goonda tax from the people).”

Monday was the last day for filing nomination papers in the urban local body polls.

From Saharanpur, the CM went to the nearby Shamli district, where he addressed a public meeting at VV inter-college grounds. “The Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre and the Yogi government in the state have ensured that development work here is done at a speed driven by a double engine. But now, to ensure total development of towns and small cities, we need the power of a third engine too. Vote for the BJP candidates in the urban local body polls if you want a change in your towns with the power of three engines,” said the CM.

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He said, “I hope that you have not forgotten the exodus of traders from Kairana during the tenure of the previous government .There was no employment for our youths and criminals were extorting money from people without fearing law enforcers. But things changed when the BJP government was formed in UP… No riots, no goonda tax and Kairana is prospering now.”

The BJP is going all out in the urban civic polls, where apart from mayor posts, the party continues to feel the challenge of other parties. A win here would make its dominance on the state total.