Describing the Samajwadi Party and Congress as ‘liabilities’, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched his election campaign on Wednesday.
He appealed to the people to desist from voting for these parties that cannot ensure provision of essentials such as ration, housing and healthcare to the underprivileged, nor honour people’s faith by getting the Ram Temple built in Ayodhya.

Inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of 103 development projects totaling Rs 241.26 crore in Unnao, the CM emphasised, “Only those who work without bias should have the right to come to power. And there is only one, unanimous voice in the country today, ‘2024 mein ek bar fir Modi Sarkar’,” he said.

Emphasising that the double-engine government exists due to the support of the people, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath remarked, “With your blessings, the temple of Ramlala was constructed in Ayodhya. The Congress and SP have failed to undertake the construction of Ram Lalla’s temple.” He also mentioned plans for the restoration of Satan Pasi Fort.

Asserting that ‘Viksit Bharat’ should be the collective commitment of people, the CM stated, “The PM has emphasised the concept of ‘Panch Pran’ for every citizen. Fulfilling civic duties is only possible when an individual upholds the Constitution and prioritises the nation above all. Our foremost aim should be the welfare of the country. Progress is achieved when we work towards this objective.”

Highlighting India’s enhanced global stature under PM Modi’s leadership, the CM remarked, “Previously, India lacked respect internationally. However, in the past decade, India has surged to new heights of development. Today, India stands as a global leader. As we enter the second year of ‘Amrit Kaal’, in PM Modi’s third term, our aim is to propel India to become the world’s third-largest economy and herald the dawn of a ‘Viksit Bharat.’ From PM Modi to ‘Pradhan-Parshad’ (every local leader), we are all dedicated to advancing the cause of a Viksit Bharat.”

Stating that Unnao is the land of litterateurs and revolutionaries, he remarked: “It was from this very soil that the bugle of independence was sounded by the immortal martyr Chandrashekhar Azad. This is the sacred land of Pratap Narayan Mishra, great poet Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’, Gaya Prasad Shukla, Acharya Nanddulare Vajpayee, Shivmangal Singh Suman, Bhagwati Sharan Verma, Dr Ramvilas Sharma, former Assembly Speaker Hridaynarayan Dixit. From revolution and nationalism to worship of literature, it shows the rich cultural heritage of this place.”

The CM noted that in Uttar Pradesh, a state previously overlooked by many, proposals worth Rs 10.5 lakh crore have been realized through initiatives like GBC@4.0. He emphasised the crucial role of UP’s development in India’s overall progress, stating, “India will develop when UP develops, and UP will develop when districts like Unnao advance through the development process. Unnao’s progress, in turn, depends on the development of villages like Chandrika Kheda.” He added that every village and community is actively working towards achieving the goal of self-reliance.

Before addressing the public, Adityanath unveiled the statue of martyr Gulab Singh Lodhi, the great son of Mother India.

The CM remarked, “Martyr Gulab Singh Lodhi hailed from a humble farming family and sacrificed his life at the forefront of the nation’s freedom movement. This courageous individual journeyed from Unnao to Lucknow in 1935, where he unfurled the flag of Independence near the Residency. Though he made the ultimate sacrifice, he bestowed upon us an independent India, where we cherish freedom and uphold democratic values.”

He continued, “Villages like Chandrika Kheda serve as pilgrimage sites of modern India. I had the honour of visiting the birthplace of those whose martyrdom and sacrifices paved the way for our nation’s independence.”

The CM also mentioned that Gulab Singh Lodhi once fell victim to police firing, and today, the finest training centre of the UP Police operates in his honour near the venue. This centre, where UP Police officers receive training, bears the name of Martyr Lodhi, commemorating his sacrifice and dedication to the nation.