Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said he will work to free the state of corruption and communal riots.Adityanath, a five-time Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member from Gorakhpur, told the Lok Sabha that he would curb anti-social elements in the country's most populous state."We will work to make the state free of corruption, rowdyism and hooliganism. We will present a development model which will prevent distress migration of youths for jobs," he said.In what appeared to be his farewell speech, Adityanath thanked members for their affection during his membership of the House. Adityanath spoke while the House was debating the finance bill. He claimed credit for bringing about changes in Gorakhpur, which he admitted did not enjoy a positive image among people earlier. Adityanath was first elected to the Lok Sabha from the seat in 1998.Now, he said, no trader in Gorakhpur paid "goonda tax" and the town did not witness incidents of abduction."There were 403 riots in Uttar Pradesh, but not one in eastern UP.
We will be successful in creating the same situation in Uttar Pradesh."Referring to the days he became MP for the first time, Adityanath said he had gone to meet a minister who recalled having been at a rally in Gorakhpur where bombs were thrown. "In last 15 years, what used to be said for Gorakhpur, was said for whole of Uttar Pradesh." Adityanath said the verdict in Uttar Pradesh was a slap on the face of those who questioned the welfare policies and development agenda of the Narendra Modi government."We will bring a new model of development in Uttar Pradesh under the leadership of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We are committed to development of every caste, every class and every citizen," he said. The 44-year-old BJP leader also took a dig at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party leader and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who were projected as "UP ke ladke (sons of Uttar Pradesh)" during the campaign for assembly elections. Adityanath referred to him being younger to Gandhi by almost a year and elder to Yadav also by a year.
The Congress and the Samajwadi Party had forged an alliance in the assembly polls with Gandhi and Akhilesh holding some joint press conferences and roadshows. "I think I came between their pair...it might be a big reason for your loss," Adityanath said. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, responding to Adiyanth's remarks, wished him luck and said: "You have the chair now, maintain its dignity and go ahead."Adityanath was sworn in as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday. He came to Delhi in the morning and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He has to become member of the state legislature in the next six months. Lok Sabha officials said he had not resigned his membership of the House.