Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the state is no longer regarded as a “BIMARU” state, while accusing previous Samajwadi Party and Congress governments of neglecting children, poor families and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Adityanath said encephalitis had claimed more than 50,000 children over 40 years. He alleged that parents had been forced to live in fear for their children and said the earlier governments had remained silent on the issue.
He said neither a Samajwadi Party chief minister nor a Congress chief minister or prime minister had come to assess the condition of poor families. Adityanath also alleged that authorities had failed to address issues including children attending school barefoot, dilapidated school buildings, teacher shortages and girls dropping out of school.
Adityanath further alleged that ration meant for poor people was siphoned off and that mafias held influence across the state. He said people in eastern Uttar Pradesh, including the Musahar community, had suffered deprivation and hunger.
“Today, UP has become true to its name,” Adityanath said, adding that people no longer call Uttar Pradesh a “BIMARU” state. He said residents of places such as Deoria, Bhatpar Rani, Salempur, Lar and Bhatni now feel pride in identifying themselves as being from Uttar Pradesh.
