Yogi unveils govt’s agenda for UP with an eye on 2019
LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday marked the completion of one year of his government by rolling out its agenda for the coming year, with an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The chief minister launched a portal to check corruption, announced the beginning of recruitment for four lakh government jobs and lifting of royalty on digging soil for brick kiln owners to bring down cost of construction material in Uttar Pradesh, at a function at Lok Bhawan here.
“This is yet another effort of the state government to check corruption. We introduced government e-market (GeM) portal for government purchases. We have begun the recruitment process on four lakh government jobs in 64 departments,” Yogi said.
He referred to how a monkey had set Ravana’s “corrupt Lanka” on fire to make a point about his government’s commitment to fight corruption.
The BJP’s defeat in Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha seats by Samajwadi Party candidates who were supported by the BSP was probably on top of his mind as he made a spree of announcements that include making digging and transportation of soil from own land royalty-free for the farmers.
He said brick kiln owners would also not be charged any royalty, if they reduced the prices of bricks.
Yogi said district officers should ensure that the poor were not deprived of their land in the government’s drive against illegal possessions. “The poor should be given land on lease in such cases and he would personally monitor this,” said Yogi.
Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya set tone and tenor for the programme by giving a terse message to the officials that the party workers should not be ignored in any circumstances.
“We all are here because of BJP workers. Officials should keep this in mind that they (BJP workers) are the top priority of this government,” said Maurya.