In Yogi regime, 'mafia' begging for mercy, 'mafiawadis' are pained: PM Modi

KUSHINAGAR: With assembly elections just a few months away, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the previous Samajwadi Party government saying "maafiawadis” are pained over the steps taken by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath against "mafia, which is now seeking mercy".
“The previous government associated itself with scams and crimes. People of Uttar Pradesh know that their (previous regime) identity is not of ‘samajwadi’ (socialist) but of ‘parivarwadi’ (dynasts). These people only did the welfare of their own family and forgot about UP and the masses," he said.
"In Yogi’s regime, the mafia is now begging for mercy. Earlier, they enjoyed patronage for ‘khuli chhoot, khuli loot’ (free hand for open loot). But Yogi’s firm steps have pained ‘maafiawadis’ the most. They are in fear,” said the PM, adding that when rule of law prevails, the benefits of government schemes easily reach the poor.
Addressing a large crowd of farmers at Barwa ground in Kushinagar on Wednesday, the PM also quoted the SP's idealogue Ram Manohar Lohia to take a jibe at the earlier regime.
“Ram Manohar Lohia used to say 'connect karma with compassion', but those who were running the government earlier did not care about the pain of the poor.”
After alighting from an Indian Airforce MI-17 helicopter at Barwa, Modi attempted to connect with local Bhojpuri speaking farmers in their dialect and laid the foundation stone of state-run medical college of Kushinagar. He also inaugurated 12 development projects worth Rs 180 crore and laid the foundation stones of several others.
“With the medical college in Kushinagar, local youth aspiring to become doctors can fulfil their dreams here only. The college would provide quality medical infrastructure. Under national education policy, the possibility of getting technical education in one’s own language is becoming a reality.”
He said the double engine government of the Centre and state is setting new records in procurement from farmers. “So far, about Rs 80,000 crore has reached the bank accounts of the farmers of UP for the purchase of their produce. More than Rs 37,000 crore has been deposited in the bank accounts of UP farmers from PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, while the Yogi government has paid Rs 1.5 lakh crore to sugarcane farmers.”
The PM added that the central government had started the PM Swamitva scheme which is going to open new doors of prosperity in the rural areas of UP in future. Under PM Swamitva Yojana, the work of giving the ownership documents of their houses to the concerned villagers has been started.
Emphasising on basic amenities for the poor, Modi said the courage to dream big and the spirit to fulfil the dreams are born when basic amenities are provided. “The confidence of the poor increases when they get a pucca house, when there is a toilet in the house, electricity connection, gas connection, water comes from the tap. Toilets and gas stoves create a sense of safety of dignity among women.”
PM Modi then went on to say that said Uttar Pradesh has given the maximum number of Prime Ministers to the country. “This is the specialty of UP, however, the identity of state cannot be limited only to this. UP cannot be confined to six-seven decades. This is a land whose history is timeless, whose contribution is timeless. Lord Rama, Lord Krishna were born on this land; out of 24 Jain Tirthankaras, 18 came from Uttar Pradesh. Tulsidas, Kabirdas and Sant Ravidas were also born on this soil.”
“The Sikh Guru tradition also has a deep connection with Uttar Pradesh. The ‘Guru Ka Taal' Gurdwara in Agra is still a witness to the glory of Guru Tegh Bahadur ji, his bravery, the way he challenged Aurangzeb," he added.