On August 9, in Siddharthnagar, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asserted that the youth of the nation have effectively ‘buried’ the Congress party, using its decline as a cautionary tale about the dangers of power arrogance.
This statement came during the inauguration and foundation-laying of over 107 development projects costing more than ₹311 crores.
Adityanath criticized Congress, stating, ‘To understand the peril of power intoxication, one must observe the downfall of Congress.’ He emphasized that the party has forgotten the revolutionaries and that the youth have decisively moved away from it.
He further claimed that Congress is on a ‘completely negative path’ and questioned why India fell into subjugation, attributing it to two main factors.
The first reason he cited was societal disparities based on caste and region, which led to division within society. The second reason involved conspiracies by certain individuals within the system who misled the nation instead of guiding it.
Adityanath accused Congress and the Samajwadi Party of repeating the same sins that led to India’s subjugation by fostering caste divisions. He posed a rhetorical question about the outcomes of their divisive politics.
He challenged them, asking what they have accomplished for the youth, farmers, the poor, and women despite their long tenure in power.
In his attack on Congress, he recalled how the British labeled the actions of freedom fighters as banditry, a term that Congress also adopted post-independence. He expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for renaming the ‘Kakori Dacoity’ incident to ‘Kakori Train Action,’ thereby honoring the revolutionaries.
Adityanath remarked that those who came to power post-independence became so intoxicated by authority that they focused on naming institutions after their families. He noted significant changes in India over the past 12 years under Modi’s leadership.
He stated, ‘There was a time when the world viewed India as a backward, impoverished, and weak nation, struggling to stand against its adversaries. Today, that same India stands strong against its opponents, and the world is looking towards us.’
He highlighted that the economy, which was ‘devastated’ during Congress’s rule, has now become the fourth-largest economy globally under Modi’s leadership. He pointed out that India, once known for corruption and policy paralysis, is now emerging as a robust startup ecosystem for the youth.
Adityanath also targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, questioning what they did to gain the support of the youth despite having ample opportunities to govern Uttar Pradesh.
He accused Congress of creating an identity crisis for the youth and claimed that the Samajwadi Party did the same in the state. He noted that during times of corruption, terrorism, and unrest, the youth are the most affected.
In a sharp critique of the Samajwadi Party, he stated that they promoted ‘one district, one mafia,’ while his administration has introduced ‘one district, one medical college.’
Reflecting on the education situation before 2017, he remarked that the Samajwadi Party seemed to believe that cheating was their birthright, which created a crisis for the youth and hindered their path to self-reliance.
Recalling the deadly encephalitis that claimed many lives in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Adityanath pointed out that thousands of children suffered from the disease, yet it never seemed to concern Congress or the Samajwadi Party.
He concluded by stating that the double-engine government has ensured better healthcare facilities for these children to secure a healthy life.