Lucknow: Warning people against “divisive forces active in the country”, chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said that some people are trying to divide the country on caste and region and young people and teachers should keep working on the motto ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’.“What kind of India do we want? A fragmented and divided India? Do we want an India fighting within itself over caste? Remember, if one imagines such an India, then one does not truly respect our ancestors,” the CM said, addressing a group of teachers before a day-long workshop organised by Akhil Vishva Gayatri Parivar at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University in Lucknow.“We want one India, a great India. Even during the period of slavery, there was an element that divided society. Even today, the same people are dividing society in the name of caste and region and breaking the unity of the country.”“This is an offence against Bharat Mata. It is an attempt to once again put India’s independence in danger. Whenever such a crisis emerges, the responsibility of teachers increases. They must ensure that divisive forces don’t succeed,” he said.Attacking the opposition parties, Yogi said nobody should be allowed to divide society on the lines of caste or section.“Educators should counter false and incorrect portrayal of the past to thwart the efforts of the divisive forces working against the interest of the country. When the nation faces challenges, the role of teachers becomes even more important,” he said.“People should shed the mentality of colonialism and take pride in our heritage, promote social equality and place greater emphasis on duties alongside rights. If citizens perform their duties honestly, the country will emerge as a global leader,” he said.Highlighting the role of social and cultural organisations, Yogi praised Gayatri Pariwar for bringing people from different backgrounds together and promoting social harmony. He said organisations driven by ideas and values endure longer than those built around individuals.Referring to the intellectual and cultural heritage of the country, the CM said the country’s traditional values should be revived. He described teachers as ‘nation-builders’ and said a committed teaching community could help the country regain the stature of a global knowledge leader.On governance and environmental initiatives, Yogi highlighted the state’s large-scale afforestation campaign and said that UP planted about 275 crore saplings in the past nine years.He said third-party assessments by reputed institutions were being used to ensure survival and fix accountability of the efforts being put on the ground during plantation drives.Yogi also stressed the need for river conservation, warning that pollution and neglect of water bodies posed a serious challenge. He cited efforts by the state govt to revive dried-up rivers through satellite mapping and restoration works, saying the initiative successfully restored local rivers and waterbodies in many cities.Top performing schools in the Bharatiya Sanskriti Gyan Pariksha were felicitated on the occasion.
