Those who respect law need not be afraid: Yogi
LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday defended his government’s crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses, saying the state is following the Supreme Court’s directions.
“We haven’t made a new law. We are merely ensuring that the existing law is implemented. We are neither against nor in favour of anyone,” he said, referring to the top court’s 2017 guidelines on illegal abattoirs.
Prior to the guidelines, the National Green Tribunal had issued directions on the contentious issue in May 2015.
The monk-turned-politician, who has completed a week as chief minister of India’s most populous state, had made some tough announcements, raising concerns among several sections.
Talking to Hindustan, a Hindi news daily of the HT media group, the chief minister sought to allay fears, saying there is no reason to be intimidated.
“Why should those who respect the law and the Constitution be afraid?” the saffron-clad Yogi said.
He reiterated that his government will treat everyone equally and will not “grant favour” to anyone. “The rule of the law will prevail. Nobody needs to be afraid.
I will implement the Prime Minister’s sabka saath, sabka vikas agenda in letter and spirit,” he assured.
On charges that the anti-Romeo police squad his government formed for women’s safety is harassing innocent youth, Adityanath said action would be taken against policemen if they overstep their brief. Also, he warned: “If someone casts an evil eye on our mothers and sisters, they won’t be spared.”
Highlighting his government’s agenda, the chief minister, who begins his work at 5am, said goons will no longer rule the roost in the state.
“The mafias will be targeted and the middlemen will be barred from the corridors of power. No land-grabbing will be allowed.”
He promised to soon fulfil the BJP’s poll pledge to provide uninterrupted power supply to the people in his state.
“The actual transmission loss is just 15-20%. But it is often showed as 35-40%. That indicates power theft. We will stop this,” he said, underlining some of the measures his government plans to take to improve the state’s power scenario.
Loan waiver for farmers is in the pipeline too, and his government is working on this pre-poll promise that will be taken up at his first cabinet meeting.
Earlier in the day, he inspected Lucknow’s Gomti riverfront, where he issued several instructions to officials.
“The Gomti is part of the Namami Gange project. Until small rivers and tributaries of the Ganga are made pollution-free, the holy river cannot be cleansed,” he said.
PRIOR TO THE GUIDELINES, THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL HAD ISSUED DIRECTIONS ON THE CONTENTIOUS ISSUE IN MAY 2015.