Varanasi: On the turf of gangster-turned-politician late Mukhtar Ansari, chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Samajwadi Party, saying those who offered ‘Fatiha’ at the grave of the mafia don brandished weapons during Ramlila and patronised his family were “destined to be ruined”.After gifting 268 development projects worth Rs 692 crore to Ghazipur at a public meeting at Muhammadabad, Yogi targeted Mukhtar’s elder brother and local SP MP Afzal Ansari, saying Ghazipur did not need an MP busy making illegal arms licences but a public representative who could advocate for the people.Yogi made scathing attacks, particularly on the SP and the Ansari family at Muhammadabad, where in 11 assembly elections since 1985 Mukhtar’s brothers Afzal and Sibgatullah Ansari, and nephew Suhaib Ansari Mannu, emerged victorious nine times, and where Krishnanand Rai was murdered.“The growth of the mafia on such a sacred land does not befit it,” Yogi said. Recalling former MLA Krishnanand Rai, the CM said Rai had fought against the mafia but was brutally killed along with seven others. Despite the evidence, he alleged, the mafia continued to receive protection, but “now the mafia can no longer be protected.”“Those who divide society to honour the foreign invader Ghazi Salar Masud and bow before the grave of a dreaded mafia who brandished weapons to fan riots during Ramlila are a threat to society. The mafia and their patrons suck the blood of society, exploit the poor, terrorise traders and endanger the security of daughters,” Yogi said.“Under our zero-tolerance policy against crime, our government has consigned the mafia to dust. Now, if a poor man’s son organises Ramlila, no one can dare to brandish weapons and create a riot,” he said, adding that Ghazipur, because of its spiritual and cultural significance, is known as Lahuri (small) Kashi, as the ashram of Pauhari Baba is located here. It is also the penance land of Bhagwan Parshuram and Maharshi Jamadagni.Cautioning the people of Ghazipur to stay away from those in the SP “at whose sight a daughter feels frightened”, Yogi said better connectivity had been provided to the district and urged people to support the double-engine govt. He said those who create an identity crisis, rob youths of jobs, force farmers to commit suicide, consume the ration meant for the poor and oppose farmers and youths should not be given another opportunity. Opposition to women, he said, had always been part of their mentality.Speaking about the Rs 692 crore worth of projects, including 83 completed works inaugurated by him and 185 projects for which he laid the foundation stone, Yogi said they would benefit people in the Ghazipur, Jakhania, Muhammadabad, Saidpur, Zamania, Zahoorabad and Jangipur Assembly constituencies.Appealing to the people of Ghazipur to elect representatives who could advocate for them, Yogi said an MP busy making illegal arms licences was not needed. “Nor are such public representatives needed who dare to make fake licences and carry out robberies and illegal encroachments in people’s homes,” he said.Yogi also paid tribute to the bravehearts and litterateurs of Ghazipur, including Veer Abdul Hamid. Referring to Gahmar, Asia’s largest village, he said more than 12,000 serving soldiers and military officers and over 15,000 retired soldiers and military officers belonged to the village. He said Ghazipur’s bravehearts had contributed to the freedom struggle, repelled tribal attacks, fought in the 1962, 1965, 1971 and 1999 Kargil wars, and also participated in Operation Sindoor. The youth of the district, he added, were also associated with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s Azad Hind Fauj.Keeping his focus on the Rajbhar community, which has a significant presence in Ghazipur and neighbouring districts, Yogi said the land of Ghazipur had always inspired patriotism. He alleged that the SP glorified foreign invaders instead of national heroes, while the NDA government honoured national heroes.He said that nearly 1,000 years ago, national hero Maharaja Suheldev defeated Salar Masud at Chittaura in Bahraich. Despite this, he alleged, the SP and Congress never allowed events in the name of Maharaja Suheldev but continued organising a fair in the name of Salar Masud Ghazi.“Our govt decided that the fair would not be held in the name of Salar Masud but in memory of Maharaja Suheldev. A grand memorial and statue of Maharaja Suheldev were installed in Bahraich, a medical college was built there, and a university was established in Azamgarh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ghazipur’s then MP Manoj Kumar Sinha started the Suheldev Superfast Express between Ghazipur and Anand Vihar, and a postage stamp was also issued in his memory,” he said.Yogi alleged that Congress and the SP insulted great personalities. He accused the SP of changing the names of Kannauj Medical College, which had been named after Babasaheb, a college named after Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar, and a district named after Sant Ravidas.He said Ghazipur now had a medical college and four-lane connectivity in all directions. The journey from Ghazipur to Lucknow, which earlier took eight to 10 hours, could now be completed in three to three-and-a-half hours. Connectivity to Lucknow, Kashi and Gorakhpur had improved, he said.Yogi announced that the government would extend the Purvanchal Expressway from Ghazipur to Shaktinagar, connecting Chandauli and Varanasi. He alleged that during the SP government, not an inch of work had been done on the Purvanchal Expressway despite Rs 3,000 crore being siphoned off, whereas his govt had completed the project.Yogi also asked people to recall how Uttar Pradesh had transformed after coming out of the SP’s rule. He said those who gave their workers a free hand to loot development works should not preach to his govt. “If the SP’s sins are exposed, they will not remain fit to show their faces,” he said, recalling how the “uncle-nephew duo” of Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav allegedly manipulated government jobs. During the SP regime, he alleged, there was no investment and festivals were marked by disturbances, riots and curfews.“Today, festivals in Uttar Pradesh are celebrated peacefully, while those who try to create disturbances or manipulate jobs for youths are finding a place either in jail or in jahannum (hell),” he said.He also highlighted schemes of the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state, including Startup India, Stand-Up India, Digital Bharat and Mission Rojgar, saying they had generated employment for lakhs of youths. In the last nine years, more than nine lakh youths had secured govt jobs without recommendation or bribes, he added.Yogi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke of four castes in the country—the poor, farmers, women and youth—and that all govt schemes were aimed at their development. By 2047, India would become self-reliant and developed, he said. Poverty would end, youths would get employment, farmers would receive better prices for their produce, traders would conduct business in a secure environment, and women would contribute fully to nation-building.He said if youths, farmers, women and traders took 10 steps towards development, the double-engine govt would take 100 steps with them. Every proposal for development would be accepted. “What is needed is not a govt that creates disturbances during festivals, but one that turns them into celebrations. Security and good governance are the identity of the double-engine government, and bringing prosperity into the lives of the people is our resolve,” he said.
