By Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday contrasted the state’s present law-and-order situation with what he described as a period of prolonged curfews, riots and insecurity before 2017. Speaking at the launch of Bharat Taxi and the Mukhyamantri Krishak Samriddhi Yojana, he said Uttar Pradesh had moved towards greater economic activity while also highlighting measures aimed at supporting drivers and small and marginal farmers.
Adityanath used the event to attack previous governments, particularly the Samajwadi Party administration, over their handling of law and order and farmers’ concerns. He said his government’s approach had focused on security, social protection, irrigation, timely farm inputs and easier access to credit, presenting these measures as part of a broader shift in the state’s development trajectory.
Bharat Taxi to provide social security to drivers
The chief minister said the newly launched Bharat Taxi service would give taxi, two-wheeler and three-wheeler drivers access to a cooperative-led platform without commission charges. Bharat Taxi is operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Ltd. (STCL), and according to Adityanath, the service is already operational in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi and Prayagraj.
He said drivers joining the platform would receive social security cover of ₹5 lakh after registration. Adityanath argued that the initiative would provide greater financial security and dignity to drivers who, he said, had received little institutional support under previous governments.
He also said cooperation can contribute to prosperity when supported by effective leadership, while poor leadership can instead result in disorder. Referring to the creation of a separate Ministry of Cooperation at the Centre, he said the benefits of the cooperative model were now becoming visible.
Adityanath also asked Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh to explore a rural bus service based on the Bharat Taxi model. He said extending such a system could create employment opportunities for a large number of young people.
Yogi attacks previous governments over law and order
Taking aim at the previous SP government, Adityanath alleged that Uttar Pradesh faced extended periods of curfew, riots and what he described as widespread anarchy before 2017.
He cited incidents involving transport operators to underline his claim, alleging that drivers were assaulted and vehicles taken away, while even parked taxis could be stripped of parts. He used an example involving a farmer travelling by bullock cart to describe the insecurity he said people faced at the time.
Adityanath contrasted those claims with the current situation, saying the state no longer faces curfews or riots on the scale he described. He also pointed to the installation of around 14 lakh CCTV cameras as part of the government’s efforts to strengthen surveillance and prevent crime.
Focus on small and marginal farmers
The chief minister also highlighted his government’s measures for farmers, particularly those with small landholdings. He said the government launched a loan-waiver programme soon after taking office in 2017, covering around 86 lakh farmers at a cost of more than ₹36,000 crore.
Adityanath said his government had also worked to ensure the timely availability of fertilisers despite international conflicts and supply disruptions.
He cited the Saryu canal project as an example of infrastructure that, according to him, remained incomplete for decades. He said irrigation facilities had been extended to an additional 24 lakh hectares across Uttar Pradesh during the government’s nine-and-a-half-year tenure.
The chief minister also spoke about sugarcane payments. He alleged that farmers had faced long delays in receiving their dues under earlier governments and claimed that 29 sugar mills had been closed, of which 21 were subsequently sold.
By comparison, Adityanath said 122 sugar mills are currently operating under the present government and claimed that more than 100 of them are clearing sugarcane payments within four days. He further claimed that ₹3.30 lakh crore in sugarcane payments had been made over the past nine years.
He also highlighted free irrigation through canals and tubewells and said 16 lakh farmers using private tubewells had received free electricity connections.
New credit plan for farmers
The Mukhyamantri Krishak Samriddhi Yojana launched at the event is aimed at improving access to long-term credit for small and marginal farmers. Under the scheme, eligible farmers will be able to access loans at a reduced interest rate of 6%.
Adityanath said the government wants the scheme to eventually benefit five lakh small and marginal farmers, helping them meet the cost of agricultural operations and machinery without facing shortages of funds.
Referring to the 2025 Prayagraj Maha Kumbh, the chief minister also cited the role played by young people using motorcycles to transport devotees between the Sangam, railway stations and the airport. He said the informal transport support helped pilgrims reach their destinations without disrupting traffic.
Concluding his address, Adityanath described Uttar Pradesh as having moved from what he characterised as poverty and disorder towards prosperity and a more positive public environment. His remarks linked the government’s law-and-order narrative with its initiatives on farmer credit, irrigation, rural transport and employment.
