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No hunger death due to free distribution of ration: Yogi
Yogi said he was thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who worked for protecting lives and livelihoods.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said people in large numbers had died of hunger during pandemics in the past and this was the first time that no hunger death took place due to free distribution of ration in fight against the Covid pandemic.
Replying to issues raised by the members during a debate on supplementary budget in the state assembly, he said people had died in the pandemic in the past. He said a record number of deaths were reported in the world during the Spanish Flu from 1918 to 1926-27.
He also referred to the “Sannyasi Vidroh” (Sannyasi rebellion) that later led to the coining of “Vande Mataram” by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee to make his point that the situation of that time reflected on the insensitivity of the then government leading to large number of deaths due to hunger.
Yogi said he was thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who worked for protecting lives and livelihoods. He said this was the first time that no one had died of hunger during the pandemic.
He gave statistical details about total world population and population of the USA, the UK, Brazil, India and Indian states like Maharashtra and Kerala and compared them to the state to make his point that Uttar Pradesh’s performance was the best.
“I wish all of you continue to remain in opposition though I will have to go for campaigning in your constituency if BJP candidate is fielded there and you know the result. But in this house, I can pray for your continuation in opposition,” the CM said.
Yogi pointed towards the opposition parties to make his point that some people (without naming political parties) were supporting Taliban in a shameless manner. “How cruel they (Taliban) are to women and children and they (political parties) should be exposed. They have been protecting a dreaded mafia and sheltering him in jail,” he said.
The CM said with efforts made by his government, Uttar Pradesh had become the second largest economy in the country with a significant increase in per capita income and the GSDP in the state. He said there was now a change in the mindset of many, who saw a communal angle in the names of Lord Rama Lord Krishna or Lord Shiva, were now claiming to be their followers.
Earlier, leader of opposition Ram Govind Chaudhary said various departments had not released the sanctions despite the large size annual budget of ₹5.50 lakh crore. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Shah Alam alias Guddu Jamali said the state government should not have moved the supplementary budget as a large chunk of funds of the annual budget remained unused.
Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra said there was nothing in the supplementary budget that was only empty rhetoric. She said chief minister Yogi Adityanath should announce a fund for the victimised women. Others who spoke included Apna Dal (S) leader Lina Tiwari and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party leader Om Prakash Rajbhar.
