No corruption, no violence, vows UP CM Adityanath
NEW DELHI: It was a farewell speech that spelt the agenda of his new job but not before taking a few swipes at rivals.
Two days after he was sworn in as the chief minister, BJP leader Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday promised an Uttar Pradesh free of corruption and communal violence.
“Uttar Pradesh will be the state which our Prime Minister has dreamt of, a corruption-free state, a state free of anarchy,” the five-time member of Parliament from UP’s Gorakhpur said in the Lok Sabha.
The 44-year-old head priest of the Gorakhnath math, a temple in Gorakhpur, is still a member of the Lok Sabha but will have to quit as his new assignment requires to be a lawmaker from Uttar Pradesh.
Dressed in saffron robes, Adityanath entered the House at around 4.30pm as a debate on the finance bill was being debated. Chants of Jai Sri Ram greeted him.
He sought speaker’s permission to participate in the discussion but what he said had a ring of a farewell speech.
The BJP’S decision to name him the chief minister raised quite a few eyebrows as his has always taken a hard line on Mus- lims, who account for 19.6 % of UP’s population.
But on Tuesday, his words were measured.
His government would work for everyone, irrespective of their religion or caste, Aditaynath assured the House.
“In Uttar Pradesh, the new model of development will be based on Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,” he said, referring to the BJP’s poll promise of development of all. “Those people who used to create illusions could not win. Our government will work for all communities.”
The dig was aimed at the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government.
He had more to say.
“I’m a year younger to Rahul Gandhi and a year senior to Akhilesh Yadav. I think I came between their pair... it might be a big reason for your loss,” Adityanath said, amid protests from Congress benches.
The SP and the Congress, who fought the state election together, could win only 54 seats in the 403-member House. The BJP and allies got 325.
Uttar Pradesh would get a new development model, Adityanath said, as he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi effusively for the work done by the Centre. “I want to say that our party has given me the mandate to invite you to my state. You are welcome to Uttar Pradesh,” he said.