House meetings: CM Yogi visits prominent citizens of the city

LUCKNOW : Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday reached out to six prominent citizens of Lucknow to share with them the achievements of the central government’s four-year rule and UP government’s one-year tenure.

A first of its kind initiative, the CM’s meetings were part of BJP’s ‘Sampark Se Samarthan’ campaign to seek support for BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Accompanied by some of his ministers, Yogi visited the residences of noted cardiologist Padma Shri Dr Mansoor Hasan, Padma Shri Raj Bisaria, former vice chancellor Bhomittra Dev, Gopichand Pandey, father of Kargil martyr Captain Manoj Pandey, Lt Gen RP Shahi and Justice HN Tilhari (retired).

Bhomittra Dev said the CM reaching out to citizens at their doorstep was an ‘extraordinary’ move.

“Normally, CMs hold janata darbars where common citizens queue up with their plaints. But Yogi bucked the trend. The visit to our place was ‘different’ and ‘unique’,” said Dev, who has been vice chancellor of four different universities during his career.

Dev added, “It was heartening to see him (CM) sit with my family -- my wife Gori Sharma, daughter Monika Gautam and her two kids Aarushi Gautam and Ishan Gautam. He also presented me copies of two books. Law minister Brijesh Pathak was also with him.”

Padam Shri Raj Bisaria said, “CM Yogi was very polite. He’s a well-meaning person. He stayed for about 10 minutes at my place.”

The chief minister spent over 15 minutes at the residence of cardiologist Prof Mansoor Hasan and discussed humanitarian and medical issues with him.

Academician Bhomittra Dev said it was heartening to see the CM reaching out to citizens/voters. It was a paradigm shift from what is happening across the country. While CMs are holding Janta Darbar, Yogi’s decision to reach out to voters was a welcome step, he said. The academician said: “It was a different and unique initiative of the chief minister who visited our place,” said Dev who remained vice-chancellor of four universities at different times.

HT PHOTO ▪ CM Yogi Adityanath with noted cardiologist Padma Shri Dr Mansoor Hasan.

Manoj Pandey’s parents assured of all help

On a visit to Kargil martyr Manoj Pandey’s house, the CM met his father Gopinath Pandey and paid floral tribute on the portrait of Manoj Pandey. Yogi Adityanath also met his mother Mohini Pandey and younger brother Manmohan Pandey and assured all possible help to the family.