Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said the BJP-led double-engine government’s zero-tolerance policy towards crime and criminals over the past nine-and-a-half years had helped curb criminal activities, strengthen the rule of law and create a fear-free environment across the state.
In a post on social media platform X, Adityanath invoked Goddess Kaalratri, the seventh form of Goddess Durga, to emphasise his government’s commitment to maintaining law and order and ensuring women’s safety and empowerment.
“The divine form of Goddess Kaalratri—who destroys malevolent forces, demons, and entities like ‘Raktabeej’ (a metaphor for persistent, multiplying evil), while establishing righteousness (Dharma) and granting fearlessness to her devotees—conveys a profound message: the eradication of unrighteousness, tyranny, and terror is the very foundation upon which a society built on justice, peace, and fearlessness can be established,” he wrote.
The Chief Minister alleged that before 2017, Uttar Pradesh was gripped by fear and disorder due to the activities of mafias, rioters and criminals, which adversely affected women’s safety, education and opportunities for self-reliance.
“Over the past 9.5 years, the ‘double-engine’ government’s policy of ‘zero tolerance’ toward crime and criminals has suppressed these malevolent forces, establishing the rule of law and a fear-free environment across the state,” he said.
Highlighting initiatives aimed at women’s safety, Adityanath cited Mission Shakti, the integrated 1090 helpline, women-focused beat policing and the Safe City project as key measures to improve security for women and girls at home, in public spaces, educational institutions and workplaces.
He also claimed that police response time had declined significantly, from 65 minutes in 2016 to five minutes at present, reflecting improvements in emergency response capabilities.
“The reduction in police response time, from 65 minutes in 2016 to just 5 minutes today, serves as clear evidence of the state’s administrative readiness and the government’s unwavering commitment to women’s safety,” he wrote.
The Chief Minister said improved security had enabled women to work with greater confidence, including during night shifts.
Citing an increase in female labour force participation from 12 per cent to over 36 per cent, Adityanath said women had emerged as an important driving force behind Uttar Pradesh’s economic growth.
“The rise in female labour force participation, from 12 per cent to over 36 per cent, demonstrates that the women of the state have become a formidable economic force, driving the economic development of Uttar Pradesh with new momentum,” he said.
He further highlighted women’s growing participation in agriculture, industry, services and entrepreneurship, saying their contribution had strengthened the state’s economy.
Adityanath also linked women’s increasing economic participation to what he described as a threefold rise in Uttar Pradesh’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and per capita income.
His remarks came during the ongoing Navratri celebrations, which honour the nine forms of Goddess Durga. The seventh day is dedicated to Maa Kaalratri, who is revered as a symbol of courage, protection and the destruction of evil.
Durga Puja, celebrated with particular enthusiasm in West Bengal and several other parts of India, commemorates Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival is marked by religious rituals, decorated pandals, cultural performances and community gatherings.
(ANI Inputs)
