We Inherited Anarchy...The Perception Of U.P. Has Changed Now

The journey of Yogi Adityanath, from being the mahant of a prominent religious order to the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, was meteoric. Equally interesting is his rise as an administrator with an incorruptible, no-nonsense image. Completing two-and-a-half years in office, Adityanath spoke about his mission and vision for U.P. to Group Editorial Director Raj Chengappa, Senior Deputy Editor Uday Mahurkar, INDIA TODAY (Hindi) Editor Anshuman Tiwari, and Assistant Editor Ashish Misra at his Lucknow residence. Excerpts:

Q. Before coming to power in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP swore by the slogan ‘Na bhrashtachar, na goonda raj (Neither corruption nor rule of goons)’. Has the Yogi Adityanath government lived up to this call?

A. One needs to see our government’s achievements in the light of what we inherited from the Akhilesh [Yadav] regime. We inherited anarchy, chaos, corruption and a culture of murder and loot. The public’s trust stood shattered. The courts had put a stay on [various government] recruitments. There was corruption in recruitments and transfers and postings [of officials]. Nepotism, casteism and communal riots had come to be the state’s identity. After almost two-and-a-half years of BJP rule, we can firmly say that under the guidance of our visionary prime minister, we have changed this perception of UP.

Q. What effect has this ‘change of perception’ brought about on the ground in the state?