Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 1 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said that before the BJP came to power in the state here in 2017, people were troubled by the mafia, and the police were in a helpless state. 

Attending a flag-off ceremony of 87 Interceptor Vehicles equipped with advanced equipment, CM Yogi said the state faced immense challenges on almost every front.

'It was the most populous state yet lagged in the economy, recruitment, the adoption of emerging technologies, and the implementation of welfare schemes. Before 2017, people would immediately dismiss someone simply by labelling them UP-wala. We acknowledge the challenge the police faced; after all, if the political leadership lacks the resolve to make decisions, how can the law and order situation be set right? People would grovel and kneel before the mafia, and the police were helpless,' CM said.

The UP Chief Minister said the state has been rescued from policy paralysis under his leadership. 

'Since 2017, casting aside that despair and rescuing the state from policy paralysis, we have successfully steered it toward progress. I can now state that we have implemented police reforms...we have installed over 14 lakh cameras in cities...Integrated Command and Control Centres have been established in every district, creating a new identity for them. Furthermore, the objective regarding 'Safe City' traffic initiatives-specifically the deployment of interceptor vehicles-has been realised,' he said. 

Meanwhile, UP Congress President Ajay Rai arrived in Gorakhpur to meet the owner of a beauty parlour in Betiahata, whose entire stock had been submerged due to waterlogging following three days of continuous rain.

He said, 'The entire region of Gorakhpur is suffering today, I visited a poor family where a woman is running a beauty parlour on borrowed money to support herself and her family.' 

Rai demanded that immediate compensation be provided to the affected lady and that action be taken against the officials responsible for this mismanagement;

'Furthermore, Yogi Adityanath himself should apologise to the residents of Gorakhpur,' he concluded. (ANI)