Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a scathing attack on previous state governments, particularly the Samajwadi Party (SP), contrasting the past lawlessness with the dramatically improved security apparatus of present-day Uttar Pradesh. Addressing a high-profile gathering in Bareilly on Tuesday, where he felicitated over 5,000 Village Guards (Gram Praharies), the Chief Minister asserted that prior to 2017, religious festivals in the state were routinely marred by communal violence and tension, whereas today the state stands completely transformed under a peaceful administrative environment.

Stressing the visible shift in law and order, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath remarked, “Uttar Pradesh has changed completely, and your region Bareilly is the biggest testament to this transformation. Before 2017, whenever a festival approached, riots would break out beforehand, forcing citizens to forget celebrations out of sheer fear. Today, people have forgotten what riots even look like. In every village and every locality, thousands of devotees are peacefully installing idols and enthusiastically partaking in the sacred rituals of Shardiya Navratri.”

The Chief Minister shared that he has been personally monitoring the security arrangements and crowd management across major shrines and Shaktipeeths in the state. “Earlier, idol installations used to gain momentum between Panchami and Saptami. However, this year I observed that devotees began installing grand idols right from Pratipada itself, conducting elaborate worship with huge crowds gathering fearlessly. People are traveling freely to various Shaktipeeths without a trace of anxiety. This safe and secure environment has fundamentally reshaped global and national perceptions regarding Uttar Pradesh,” he stated.

Reflecting on the historical challenges faced by the state’s population, Yogi Adityanath emphasized that a small group of wrongdoers had previously tarnished the reputation of nearly 25 crore citizens. “There was a widespread narrative that Uttar Pradesh could never progress. The mistakes of a handful of criminals forced the entire state to suffer, creating an acute identity crisis for our youth, businessmen, and daughters. Citizens of Uttar Pradesh were often forced to conceal their state identity when traveling outside. Today, with decisive governance and zero tolerance for crime, the youth of UP carry their identity with pride across the globe,” the Chief Minister concluded.