Government looks to blunt criticism with video, booklet
Booklet titled ‘ek saal, nai misaal’ will supplement the effort with statistics from all departments
LUCKNOW: The Yogi Adityanath government has prepared a 10-minute video documentary that will be screened on the completion of one year of BJP rule in Uttar Pradesh, people familiar with the development said.
The move comes as the state government seems to be aware that its political opponents, fired up after the ruling party’s stunning losses in Gorakhpur and Phulpur bypolls, will quiz it on commitments it had made to people, they added.
This documentary, along with a booklet containing department wise comparison, will be Adityanath’s response to political criticism that his government has “underperformed”.
The documentary, Adityanath’s aides say, will contain voices from the beneficiaries themselves to showcase how the government has made a difference.
The booklet titled ‘ek saal, nai misaal’ will supplement the effort as it will contain statistics from all departments. “Our one year promotional campaign isn’t bureaucratic in nature. We will put up statistics and people-speak,” says Mrityunjay Kumar, the advisor to the CM. There will also be statements by top industrialists and corporate leaders talking of how the perception about UP has changed, a point that Adityanath’s government and the BJP are expected to highlight prominently in the publicity brochure.
On March 19, Adityanath will take on critics at his new Lok Bhavan office. The CM is expected to address party workers and reporters. Most of the criticism will be focused on Samajwadi Party that left the government red-faced by ensuring the defeat of BJP in Gorakhpur and Phulpur through a tie-up with its arch rival Bahujan Samaj Party, a move that caught the ruling party unawares.
THE LOAN WAIVER CHALLENGE
Among the biggest commitment that BJP had made in the run up to the 2017 UP polls was that of farmers’ loan waiver. Since the commitment was made by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP government announced the loan waiver in its first cabinet meeting.
However, the Rs 36,000 crore loan waiver that was to benefit an estimated 86 lakh farmers posed financial problems for the government. The opposition parties also criticised the government for going back on its commitment for complete loan waiver. “Scores of farmers have been left out. This is opportunism,” said SP president Akhilesh Yadav.
UP’s agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi rejected Yadav’s charge. “It’s a complete lie. This is the biggest loan waiver and the smoothest exercise ever and it has unnerved our political rivals who are spreading canards,” Shahi said.
“Please take into account 36000 metric tonne wheat purchase, along with paddy procurement, undertaken by our government. When clubbed with the loan waiver, our government has ensured direct benefit of nearly Rs 86000 crore to the farmers. That’s a record,” Mrityunjay Kumar said.
INVESTORS SUMMIT
Kumar said the recent investors’ summit has shown how things are changing.
“This summit automatically is a ratification of marked improvement on the law and order front. It was our commitment and today everyone feels safe,” said UP BJP general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak. Officials, however, said several investors from India and abroad have established contact. “Many of them have gone to look for sites where they will like to set up industry,” an official said. The Nivesh Mitra portal, inaugurated by PM Modi, too will be operational in a few days, officials said.
ROADS
The BJP had promised pothole free roads within first 90 days of power. A year in office, the state’s PWD department managed by deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya is struggling to meet the commitment.
“A whopping 1,21,000 kilometers of roads in the state were full of potholes when we took office. In 90 days, we substantially improved 89,000 kilometre of roads in the state,” says Maurya.
CORRUPTION-FREE UP
The government has decided to set up a helpline managed by the CM’s office. Officials say Adityanath has made it clear that his government will have a zero tolerance policy on corruption.