Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 31 (HBTV): Opening the Monsoon Session with a sharp attack on the Opposition, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday accused the Samajwadi Party (SP) of hiding behind a façade of democracy while subjecting traders to atrocities and a ‘goonda tax’ during its rule.

Targeting what he described as SP's negative politics in Sambhal, Bahraich, and Gorakhpur, the Chief Minister also cautioned Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey, whom he acknowledged as a senior leader, against being used as a pawn for vested interests.

Adityanath criticised the SP for opposing the Gorakhpur Heritage Corridor, calling its stance anti-development. Outlining the project, he said the corridor will link iconic landmarks, including Ghantaghar, the city’s oldest market, and Gitapress.

He added that he had inspected the site three days before the Leader of Opposition’s visit and personally met every trader. Long plagued by congestion and illegal encroachments, the market is now undergoing road expansion and decongestion works. The Chief Minister assured that all affected traders would receive fair compensation and that no one would be left to bear losses in the name of development.

Taking a dig at SP, he said no development had taken place in the area during their rule. He reminded the House that during the SP regime, encephalitis claimed the lives of 700 to 1,500 children every year, including hundreds in Mata Prasad Pandey’s constituency and neighbouring Siddharthnagar, yet no action was taken. ‘Health, education, and development have never been your priorities,’ he asserted.

The Chief Minister added that Gorakhpur traders opposed Pandey’s visit because of bitter memories of SP-era fear and exploitation. ‘The traders have not forgotten the exploitation they suffered under SP rule. You went there uninvited, trying to obstruct development, and they respectfully opposed you,’ he said, stressing that people cannot expect either security or development from SP.

Recalling the Sambhal incident during the SP regime, Adityanath said his government is carrying out a ‘purification drive’ in the area to undo the negativity spread by the party.

‘SP is still clinging to its old habits, opposing development at every step,’ he remarked. Accusing the party of being anti-growth, he alleged that its politics in Sambhal, Bahraich, and Gorakhpur are rooted in obstruction, not progress. ‘The BJP and NDA governments are committed to development, but SP simply cannot tolerate it,’ he asserted.

(ANI)