Spiritual power helps in good governance: Yogi
Committed to safety of every community No vendetta in probes into SP govt’s schemes No criminal will get political protection
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday claimed that he was not a fulltime politician, and serving the public was the only reason for his foray into politics.
When asked about his chances of becoming India’s future premier, Adityanath said he considered himself fortunate to have been given the responsibility of heading UP by PM Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.
“After I have successfully carried out my responsibilities, I would like to return to my mutt. I don’t think it’s acceptable to me to devote my entire life to politics,” Yogi told HT.
This was the first interview given by the chief minister to a newspaper since he completed 100 days in office on June 27.
Incidentally, the chief minister is required to become a member of either of the two houses within six months of assuming charge. While Adityanath said it was up to the party leadership to decide which assembly constituency he should contest from, speculations are rife that it would be from Ayodhya.
Adityanath said he was able to achieve a lot during his first 100 days in office, including establishing his commitment to good governance and improving the law-and-order situation by not according protection to criminals. The chief minister reiterated that no community should live in fear because he was adamant on not discriminating against anybody as far as implementation of development schemes was concerned. At the same time, he also stressed that the government will not try to appease the members of any community or religion.
The chief minister, who is committed to constructing a Ram temple in Ayodhya, said he has asked all the parties concerned to amicably resolve the issue and ensure that the country enters a new era of communal harmony.
“The government can – at best – facilitate the removal of hurdles standing in the path to finding a peaceful solution to the problem,” he said.
Adityanath also claimed that his spiritual prowess helped him immensely in carrying out administrative work.
After I have successfully carried out my responsibilities, I would like to return to my mutt. I don’t think it’s acceptable to me to devote my entire life to politics YOGI ADITYANATH, chief minister
LUCKNOW: It is 9.30 in the morning. After his early morning prayers, the first mahant chief minister Yogi Adityanath is ready for a long day ahead as he has to make preparations for his government’s first budget on July 11.
As for the day’s agenda, he is eagerly looking forward to his video conferencing with senior district officials on the speedy disposal of public complaints.
In his first interview to a newspaper after the completion of 100 days in office, Yogi Adityanath spoke to Sunita Aron and Rajesh Kumar Singh on various issues including the contentious Ram Temple in Ayodhya, expansion of Hindu Yuva Vahini, triple talaq and challenges ahead as he says ‘sanyas’ is not an escape route but a path for service to humankind. Excerpts:
You recently expressed the desire to return to your math in Gorakhpur? Are you planning an early retirement from politics?
I am not a full-time politician but a ‘sanyasi’ who has joined politics to serve the people. I will continue in politics till there are challenges. I am not in politics for my entire life. I will fulfil whatever responsibilities have been given to me for the development of the state and security of the people.
But people are talking about greater responsibilities for you at the Centre?
The central leadership has given me this responsibility (of the state) and my priority is to deliver.
The Prime Minister’s office has mediated in resolving Ram Mandir/Babri Mosque dispute in the past. Will you or your office intervene to find an amicable solution to the dispute?
The matter is sub judice as the case is in the Supreme Court. The state government is not a party to the dispute. Both the parties have contacted me and I have appealed to them to find an amicable solution through discussion.
Will you intervene as you have been committed to the construction of the temple?
Let them hold talks first and come out with a solution. The state government is not a party but can facilitate.
Muslims in UP are feeling insecure. Why?
There is no fear in any community. The government is committed to the welfare of the 22 crore people of the state. The government does not discriminate in the implementation of policies or schemes. I am committed to the safety and development of every community and region in the state. I would like to make it clear that there will be no appeasement of any community or section of the society. Your comment on Taj Mahal created a controversy. Taj Mahal can be a tourist attraction but it can never be treated as a monument of faith.
Muslim women have been meeting you and your government has promised them relief from triple talaq? When will this happen?
The matter is in the Supreme Court and the state government will follow its directives. Many Muslim women have met me and I have urged the women welfare minister to take their opinion and submit it to the court at the earliest. I have also asked the minister to prepare a welfare plan for the victims of triple talaq as 50 per cent of our state’s population should not be deprived of justice.
Why is the government delaying the reopening of slaughterhouses?
The government had closed down illegal slaughterhouses which did not adhere to the norms laid down by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Supreme Court. We have asked the owners of slaughterhouses to abide by the norms after which they will be regularised.
What are your plans for the expansion of Hindu Yuva Vahini? Will it merge with the RSS?
Hindu Yuva Vahini is working in social and cultural sphere and it will continue to do so. There are no plans for its expansion or merger with the RSS. Its volunteers will be deployed in programmes related to sanitation, literacy and public welfare.
You have to become a member of either house of the state legislature within six months. Three months have already passed. What are your plans?
I will contest election from wherever my party decides. There are five ministers who have to seek membership of either of the two houses. The party will take a decision on them too.
You will be facing your budget session amid financial constraints due to the state’s commitment on loan waiver and seventh pay commission?
We will mobilise funds through savings and check on wasteful expenditure. We will fulfil our commitment without imposing any new tax. We have to check migration and create jobs. This is possible only through development of both rural and urban areas. We want to introduce technology in the farming sector to attain enhanced productivity. We are setting up new agriculture science centres in rural areas. The new industrial policy will create atmosphere for investments in the state.
Do you think industrialists will come here?
A lot of industrialists have shown interest in making investments in UP as the atmosphere is more conducive today.
Are you expecting a windfall from mining tenders?
We are getting more revenue from mining after the introduction of e-tendering and check on corruption by initiating stern action against people involved in illegal mining. We are expecting huge revenue from mining in the next financial year. The opposition is dubbing multiple investigations ordered by your government in the execution of projects by the SP government as political vendetta. Your comments... There is no political vendetta behind investigations. There have been financial irregularities. Let me give you the example of one project – the initial budget of Rs 160 crore was increased to Rs 660 crore and then again to Rs 1,600 crore. How can we turn a blind eye to such discrepancies? It is betrayal with the people of the state.
Gorakhpur has been a neglected region. Do you have any special plan for its development?
I have to work for the development of the entire state, including Gorakhpur. The development schemes are being framed for the entire state. Poorvanchal and Bundelkhand are backward regions. We have offered special concessions to the entrepreneurs in the new industrial policy to attract investment in these regions. Do you think that you lack administrative experience or your spiritual powers as a mahant help in the administration of the state? I have been a member of parliament since 1998 but never held any position of responsibility. My spiritual knowledge guides me in my administrative work too.
What are the challenges ahead? Is law and order an issue?
UP’s work culture had gone for a toss in the last one decade. Criminals were getting shelter, FIRs were not lodged and heinous crimes were swept under the carpet. We have ensured 100 per cent registration of cases, quick framing of charges and timely prosecution without favouring anyone. I have also requested the media to report facts. The crime graph is bound to go down because of the actions taken by my government. It is my commitment to the people of the state too. I will ensure that no criminal ever gets any political protection in my government. If anyone takes law in his hands, he would not be spared.
What about the spurt in cases of upper caste and Dalit clashes?
Only one case of caste clash was reported from Saharanpur. It flared up after the visit of former chief minister Mayawati. It was a case of administrative failure and was contained efficiently. But you must note that there has been no communal riot in 100 days.
While you have been asking officials to perform their duty fearlessly, some police officers were humiliated and transferred, particularly two women police officers in Gorakhpur and Bulandshahr?
The transfers were done according to the transfer policy and not due to any political pressure. In Gorakhpur, the local MLA and the woman IPS officer had an argument over lathi charge on agitating women demanding removal of liquor shops.
Who would want a liquor shop in a residential area? Previous government had shifted liquor outlets in residential blocks and women were protesting against it. A public representative will raise such issues. So far as Bulandshahr case is concerned, it was a routine transfer.
Your 100day achievement?
Development and good governance.
I have also asked the minister to prepare a welfare plan for the victims of triple talaq as 50 per cent of our state’s population should not be deprived of justice. We want to introduce technology in the farming sector to attain enhanced productivity. We are setting up new agriculture science centres in rural areas. There is no political vendetta behind investigations. There have been financial irregularities. How can we turn a blind eye to such discrepancies? It is betrayal with the people of the state.