Committed to growth of Braj region: UP CM Yogi Adityanath

VRINDAVAN: The Union and state governments are fully committed for ensuring development of Braj region and projects worth over Rs 425 crore are already in progress in the districts, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Wednesday.
Yogi inaugurated the ‘Braj Raj Utsav’ and ‘Hunar Haat’ here and said craftspersons and artisans are helping realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
Praising the PM, he said no other leader in the world communicated with citizens during the coronavirus pandemic like him.
“The PM adopted the mantra of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ to save lives and livelihood. I am happy that ‘Hunar Haat’ has also been linked with ‘Braj Raj Utsav-2021’ by the Union ministry of minority affairs,” he said.
Development projects worth over Rs 425 crore have been launched by the Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad, the CM said. Braj, also known as Brij or Brijbhoomi, is the region around Mathura-Vrindavan and is famous as the land of Lord Krishna.
The 10-day ‘Braj Raj Utsav’ organised by UP Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad in Vrindavan to promote Braj culture, is a joint venture of the state government, Union ministry of minority affairs and ministry of textiles.
Minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Mathura MP Hema Malini, UP ministers Shrikant Sharma, Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary, UP Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad vice chairman Shailja Kant Misra were also present at the inauguration.
“Hunar Haat provides market and opportunities to centuries-old traditional and ancestral arts and crafts and is strengthening the ‘swadeshi’ and ‘vocal for local’ campaigns. It has also ensured economic empowerment of indigenous artisans and craftspersons,” said Naqvi.
About 400 artisans, craftspersons and culinary experts from more than 30 states and union territories are participating in the Hunar Haat, the Union minister added.
Renowned artists like Annu Kapoor, Kailash Kher, Suresh Wadekar; Punit Issar will perform Mahabharat, while Sadanand Biswas, Anoop Jalota, Usman Mir will also perform.
The next Hunar Haat will be organised in Lucknow from November 12 to 21.