Lucknow: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday announced that state govt has sent a proposal to rename Fazilnagar in Kushinagar district as Pawagarh in honour of Lord Mahavir, saying the move would strengthen the area’s historical and spiritual identity.Addressing a gathering during the inauguration and foundation stone-laying ceremony of 278 development projects worth over Rs 424 crore in Kushinagar, the CM said, “A proposal has been sent to rename Fazilnagar as Pawagarh, which will connect the area with the legacy of Lord Mahavir and provide it with global recognition.”The Fazilnagar constituency is currently represented by BJP MLA Surendra Kumar Kushwaha. The seat was earlier held by BJP’s Ganga Kushwaha in 2012 and 2017.Taking a swipe at previous govts, Yogi said before 2022, regions such as Tamkuhiraj and Fazilnagar were only ridiculed rather than getting attention for development.Highlighting the transformation of eastern UP, Yogi said Kushinagar once associated with encephalitis, unemployment, hunger and mafia influence, was now emerging as a symbol of development. “Kushinagar is no longer a symbol of backwardness but is emerging as a symbol of a new Uttar Pradesh moving ahead at bullet speed,” he said.The CM blamed previous govts for the identity crisis which Kushinagar faced and alleged that mining mafia operated unchecked, farmers were exploited, healthcare and education were poor, and hunger deaths among the Musahar community in Fazilnagar and Kasaya were frequent.Contrasting the state’s past and present, Yogi said UP was once known for manufacturing country-made firearms and bombs but has now become a hub for defence production, including BrahMos missiles.“Previous govts produced country-made pistols and bombs to loot innocent people and traders. Today, Uttar Pradesh is manufacturing BrahMos missiles for the security of the nation,” he said.He added that Kushinagar, which once lacked major institutions, now has a medical college, an international airport and an agricultural and technology university. The university is expected to begin academic operations from the current session.The CM said that local youth, including women, were securing positions in the police force and govt services while benefiting from employment opportunities generated through new investments.Referring to the construction of the Ram temple, Yogi described it as the culmination of centuries of faith and struggle. “The grand temple of Shri Ram in Ayodhya is a symbol of the victory of centuries of struggle, faith and determination,” he said, adding that the project gained momentum after the BJP formed govts at the Centre and in the state.Targeting opposition parties, he alleged that both the Congress and the Samajwadi Party had obstructed efforts to build the temple.“Congress could have facilitated the construction of the Ram temple after Independence but did not do so. The SP has openly been anti-Ram and continuously created obstacles,” he said.The CM linked major political decisions, including the construction of the Ram Temple, the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, and the establishment of defence manufacturing facilities in Uttar Pradesh, to the electoral mandate received by the BJP.Emphasising the role of elected representatives in development, Yogi said regions such as Tamkuhiraj and Fazilnagar, once neglected, were now witnessing rapid infrastructure growth through coordinated efforts of local MLAs and MPs.“Govt has a vision for development and development became possible because you elected capable public representatives,” he said.
