KANPUR: Hours after five residents of Azamgarh were sentenced to death for the 2008 Gujarat blasts, chief minister Yogi Adityanath accused Samajwadi Party family of being terror sympathizers.
"The father of one of these terrorists has close ties with Samajwadi Party. Now, you decide whether you want to elect those harbouring terrorists or those who defend the nation," Yogi said at a packed rally in Kanpur on Friday.
Referring to the 2019 anti-CAA violence that wracked Kanpur, particularly Babupurwa locality, he said, "If the BJP candidate from Cantonment had been sent to assembly, then Kanpur would have been at peace."
"Before 2017, riots were frequent in Kanpur and more than 700 incidents of rioting took place in the state with hundreds dead. Curfew would be in force for months. But during my 5-year tenure, there was no riot, because criminals live in fear. They know their photographs would be put up at city crossroads and in next 24 hours, a notice of recovery would reach their home. Earlier, traders would migrate to other states to avoid extortionists, but it doesn't happen now. Daughters go to school without fear, illegal slaughter has been banned and mafia is on the run," he said.
The CM said, "The SP government withdrew cases against terrorists who attacked Ramjanmabhoomi and Sankat Mochan temple. They talk of development during their stint in power, but all they did was splurge on revamping 'kabristan' (cemetery) walls."
In their regime, only the Saifai festival would be organised, but in BJP rule, Deepotsav in Ayodhya was resumed, he added.
"Holi grandeur of Vrindavan and Mathura, Kashi's Dev Deepawali and Prayagraj's 'mahakumbh' have got global recognition. Today, bombs are not exploding during kanwar yatras of Shiva devotees. The idol of Ram Lalla will be shifted to the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya next year, paving way for the establishment of 'Ram Rajya'.
The 500-year-old dream of our ancestors will be fulfilled when the grand temple comes up in Ayodhya. Remember, we can control Covid, but only you can control these politicians who back terrorists," the CM told the crowd.
Attacking the Samajwadi Party chief, Yogi said, Akhilesh Yadav would forfeit his security deposit in Karhal.
"BJP has already won the poll war because Samajwadi Party commander's has fled the battlefield." Be it greenfield expressway or defence corridor, the BJP government has taken giant strides in development and youth of Kanpur will benefit when the defence corridor comes up, he said.
In five years of SP rule, only 18,000 houses for underprivileged were approved, but the BJP government provided houses to more than 43 lakh people and built more than two crore toilets, he said.
"Our government has provided free vaccines, conducted tests and treated Covid patients. Now, the time has come to decimate those who advised citizens to avoid the Modi-Yogi vaccine," he said.
