Offer Namaz in shifts if you want, but not on roads: Chief Minister

CM’s blunt message – Disorder and chaos on roads will not be accepted at any cost; if people agree peacefully, fine, otherwise another method will be adopted

Previous govts produced country-made pistols and bombs, we manufacture BrahMos missiles: CM Yogi

CM Yogi Adityanath addressed the dialogue programme organized on the foundation day of ‘Amar Ujala’

Sensationalism and fake news spread chaos in society, positive and sensitive journalism strengthens democracy

CM said, those who harass daughters on the streets in UP will meet the fate of Ravana and Duryodhana

Through law and order, infrastructure, and positive governance, UP has moved from the bottom-2 to the top-2 states

Lucknow, May 2026 : Referring to the transformed image of Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, “Under previous governments, the state was known for country-made pistols, bombs, riots, and mafia culture, whereas today UP is identified with BrahMos missiles, the Defence Corridor, expressways, international airports, and as an investment destination. Owing to law and order, infrastructure, and positive governance, the state has moved from the bottom-2 to the top-2 states. There is zero tolerance towards chaos and disorder in the state.”

He stated, anyone harassing daughters on the streets would meet the fate of Ravana and Duryodhana. On the issue of offering namaz on roads he said, if people want to offer namaz, they may do so in shifts, we will not stop them, but permission cannot be given for offering namaz on roads. Sharing his views on journalism in the present era, the Chief Minister said that sensationalism and fake news spread chaos in society, whereas positive and sensitive journalism strengthens democracy.

CM Yogi was addressing a dialogue programme organized on the 78th foundation day of ‘Amar Ujala’ on Monday.

CM Yogi said that Bharatendu Harishchandra gave Hindi journalism a new height. The writings of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak gave a new direction to the freedom movement. Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi made journalism the basis of a movement. In Kanpur, Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi worked to make journalism the foundation of India’s independence and social justice. In 1975, when attempts were made to throttle democracy, eminent editors and reporters foiled those attempts.

He added, in a democracy, not only the legislature, judiciary, and executive but also the media has a powerful role. However, the threat of deep-fake and fake news is looming everywhere.

He said, “If reporting had been made sensitive instead of becoming a basis for sensationalism, law and order problems would not have arisen in many places. Sensational news may provide temporary benefit to reporters, newspapers, or media groups, but when that news turns out to be fake, they also have to stand in the dock. We remain alert regarding this because once a wrong news sparks fire, it takes time to extinguish it. We do not want the atmosphere of riots and curfew to return in UP. No one has the freedom to create chaos in UP.”

Chief Minister stated, “People ask whether namaz is really not offered on roads in UP? I say absolutely not. Go and see, it does not happen. Roads are meant for movement, or will anyone come and create a spectacle at a crossroads? What right does anyone have to block roads and obstruct movement? Offer prayers at the designated place. People told me, how will it work, our numbers are large? We said, do it in shifts. If there is no space at home, then control the numbers. And if there is no capacity, then why are you increasing the numbers? If you want to live within the system, then start following rules and laws. If you want to offer namaz, do it in shifts. We will not stop you, but not on roads.”

He added, “Ordinary citizens, sick persons, labourers, employees – everyone uses the roads, and we will not allow roads to be obstructed. If people agree peacefully, it is fine; otherwise, another method will be adopted. If they agree through dialogue, fine; otherwise, they may also see conflict. People in Bareilly tried to test the system and they saw the strength of the government. The government wants to connect the entire system with proper order.”

CM stated, people from different sectors work in different fields, but sometimes their tone becomes like that of trade unions. The tendency of trade unions has never been positive. They have only caused destruction. They work on the principle of extortion and ‘Ajgar kare na chakari, panchhi kare na kaam,’ hollowing out the entire system.

He added, “Trade union leaders do no work; they roam around carrying bags on their shoulders and spreading disturbance. They fill their own homes through collections while pushing labourers towards starvation. Kanpur is a clear example. Trade union leaders became MPs and ministers, but labourers were pushed to the verge of starvation.”

CM Yogi said, 9 years ago, he himself did not understand why he was being sent to UP because he was an MP and had never even contested an MLA election. But I knew the problems of UP. Riots occurred here every other day. In every district, a parallel mafia power structure operated alongside the government. Teachers, doctors, traders – everyone was forced to pay goonda tax. Daughters were unsafe.

He added, “There was no infrastructure. As soon as travellers saw potholes or darkness on roads, they assumed they had entered UP. After forming the government, we established the rule of law. Today, anyone harassing daughters on the streets is destined to meet the fate of Ravana and Duryodhana.”

Chief Minister informed, that 60 percent of all expressways being built in the country are in Uttar Pradesh. Interstate connectivity has now become four-lane. The government has built Bharat-Nepal Friendship Gates, Uttar Pradesh-Bihar Friendship Gates, Uttar Pradesh-Jharkhand Friendship Gates, and others on all borders. Sixteen airports are operational in the state, work is underway on 5 more, and 5 international airports have already started functioning. Domestic services at the country’s largest Noida International Airport will begin from June 15.

He continues by saying, “The country’s longest Ganga Expressway was recently dedicated to the nation by PM Modi. We have taken the state out of the category of BIMARU states and made it a revenue surplus state. We have succeeded in tripling the economy. The state’s total GSDP, which was ₹12 lakh crore, has now increased to ₹36 lakh crore. Per capita income has risen from ₹43,000 to more than ₹1.20 lakh.”

Similarly, we have succeeded in tripling the size of the state budget. More than 9 lakh youth have been given government jobs. Today, 96 lakh MSME units are operating in Uttar Pradesh, providing employment to more than 3 crore people, he said.

CM Yogi said that UP today has 34 sectoral policies, the highest in the country. Policy paralysis has completely ended. Through initiatives such as the single-window platform, Nivesh Sarathi, and Nivesh Mitra, investors’ problems are being resolved quickly. As a result, Uttar Pradesh has received investment proposals worth ₹50 lakh crore, out of which projects worth ₹15 lakh crore have already undergone ground-breaking and projects worth ₹7.5 lakh crore are in the pipeline. Women’s workforce participation has increased from 12-13 percent to over 36 percent.

He added, earlier, women were afraid to go out even during the day for work or school, whereas today they are working night shifts and returning home safely. This is the identity of the new UP.

CM Yogi said that politics, casteism, dynastic politics, and discriminatory politics had turned Uttar Pradesh into a BIMARU state. This had created a crisis of identity for the youth of UP, whereas immense possibilities always existed in the state. We have more than 86 percent irrigated land. Even in developed countries, this percentage is not more than 15 to 20 percent.

He also said, our food-producing farmers can feed the whole world. Agricultural growth rate has risen from 8 percent to 18 percent. The One District-One Product Scheme has become the identity of UP,” he said.

He informed, nine years ago, the MSME sector had become nearly defunct. It had become merely a means of exploitation for the Pollution Control Board, police, and various departments. Workers were disheartened, farmers were driven to suicide, and youth were forced to migrate. In the new UP, youth are getting employment in their own districts and villages.

CM Yogi said, “What did previous governments produce? Their production was country-made pistols and bombs. We stopped that, and now BrahMos missiles are being manufactured here. Drones are being made. Work is happening in every field. When we created an environment for investment, we thought proposals worth ₹15,000 crore would come, but proposals worth more than ₹35,000 crore have already arrived.”

The dialogue programme was attended by Amar Ujala Managing Director Tanmay Maheshwari, President Varun Maheshwari, Amar Ujala Editor Dr Indushekhar Pancholi, Lucknow Edition Editor Vijay Tripathi, Swami Chidanand Saraswati Muni Ji Maharaj from Parmarth Niketan, popular actor Jackie Shroff, and several distinguished guests.

When CM Yogi refused 24-hour electricity only for Gorakhpur

CM Yogi said that if his government adopted a negative approach, nothing could have been achieved. We worked above caste, region, language, faith, religion, and family. When I became CM, officials from the Power Corporation came first. They said Gorakhpur should get 24-hour electricity. I asked why, when it earlier received only 3-4 hours of electricity. What suddenly changed after I became CM that it should start getting 24-hour supply? Leave it for now, people will not even be able to digest it.

He added, the day we provide 24-hour electricity to all 75 districts, that same day Gorakhpur will also receive 24-hour electricity, otherwise not. Whatever I have to do, I have to do equally in all 75 districts, 350 tehsils, 825 development blocks, 762 urban local bodies, 14,000 wards, and 1,05,000 revenue villages. No discrimination – those who voted for us and those who did not, both will receive it. Electoral politics remains only till the EVM; after that we must work with a healthy and balanced mindset. We will not allow any section of society to become unhealthy.

If someone beside us is hungry, then a luxurious life is a sin

CM Yogi also narrated a story related to Jagatguru Shankaracharya. He said that Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya often cited this example. Once Shankaracharya went out for bhikshatan. The rule of alms is not to accumulate anything. One has to go to a single house and consume whatever is received there within 24 hours.

He saw a large house and called out. The lady of the house went inside to bring alms. Meanwhile, Shankaracharya heard groaning from a hut in front of the house.

He understood that someone had been hungry for several days. As soon as the lady returned with alms, he withdrew his cloth, causing the alms to fall down. The lady asked why he did that. Shankaracharya replied that he could not accept her alms because someone in front of her house was writhing in hunger. ‘If I accept your alms, the sin will fall upon me. I cannot become a participant in this sin.’

The CM said, “If someone beside us is hungry and we are living a life of luxury, then remember that we too become participants in that sin.”

CM Yogi expressed gratitude to PM Modi

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the ongoing crisis in West Asia is currently a major challenge before the world. He said that all citizens should express gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ensuring that no additional burden fell upon the people of the country during this nearly 60-day-long crisis.

He pointed out that in many major countries across the world, including the United States, inflation and petroleum product prices have increased several times over, whereas India has successfully kept them under control.

CM Yogi added, the people of India have positively responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to conserve fuel and make greater use of public transport. As a result, visible improvements can now be seen both on the roads and in the environment.

He further said that when the country celebrates the centenary of its Independence, all of us will witness the realization of the vision of a Atmanirbhar and Viksit Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh will certainly become a 1 trillion-dollar economy, and the state will emerge among the top economies of India.
He added that Uttar Pradesh, a state with unlimited potential, will continue its remarkable journey of progress.