Yogi's jibe at Akhilesh: PDA is Parivar Devpt Authority

Time of India

a day ago

1
2
Lucknow: CM
Yogi Adityanath
on Thursday tore into the opposition, accusing it of being restricted to "self interest" while being driven by an urge for "power". "Even your PDA (Picchda, Dalit Alpsankhyak) narrative is 'namoona' (sample) of that self-interest," Yogi said speaking on floor of UP assembly.
In a jibe at SP chief
Akhilesh Yadav
for his 'PDA' slogan , said it was "Parivar Development Authority". "The vision of opposition was like that of a "frog in a pond" which can't see beyond a limit," he added. He said while the world was witnessing fierce competition, opposition was only limited to its "family". "And you want to take the state in that direction," Yogi said. His remark was sharp retort to opposition benches, which have questioned fulfilment of promises BJP made to people in the last eight years.
Adityanath said UP had all resources to develop before 2017. "But the state faced hampered growth because of policy paralysis," he said, stressing decline of UP, which started after 1980, became even more serious after 1990. "Once a prosperous state, UP became a BIMARU state," he said, stressing policies framed by then state govts lacked political will and transparency.
Yogi said basic amenities like roads, electricity, and medical facilities started lagging behind, while crime and anarchy peaked.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Undo
"Youth did not have employment, farmers were under distress, and investors did not have confidence," he said. He also slammed the opposition for being responsible for the migration of people and the death of children because of the lack of medical facilities. He categorically pointed out the deaths caused by encephalitis, dengue, and other serious diseases.
Yogi said corruption and discrimination, 'Bhai-Bhatijawaad', dominated in govt jobs.
"All that changed after 2017. Rule of law was established. There has been zero tolerance for crime and criminals and secure environment for investors. Development projects like airports, expressways, and metro rail projects were implemented," he said, underscoring how govt ensured benefits for farmers and socio-economically deprived sections "with no discrimination or appeasement".
Yogi said PM Modi's vision of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas aur Sabka Prayas' played key role in determining direction of the state's growth trajectory.
"Today, UP is known for good governance, robust law and order, peace and tranquillity…," he said. He sought to divide period from 1947 to 2047 into two parts – between 1947 and 2017 and between 2017 and 2047. He said though the national GDP of India was less than 2% of global scale, the country was sixth-largest economy in the world. "It slipped to 10th place in 1960 and 11th position between 1980 and 2014," he said, adding, situation changed in 2014 when PM Modi assumed office.
"India bounced back to 7th position in 2017, 5th position in 2024, and in 2025 it is 4th biggest economy," he said. "This shows meaning of 'Vision document'," he said.
Likewise, he said UP's contribution to national GDP went down from 14% in 1960-61 to just 8% in 2016-17. Yogi said per capita income, which was equivalent to the national average in 1947, plunged to one-third. "Exports were only Rs 84,000 crore and state was dependent on Central taxes (around 56%)," he said.
He said state GSDP grew to Rs 13 lakh crore between 1947 and 2017. "But between 2017 and 2025 it has touched a mark of Rs 35 lakh crore," he said. Similarly, UP's contribution to national GDP has grown from 8% to 9.5%. Yogi said economic growth rate of UP was better than national average. The state's per capita income too grew from Rs 43,000 per annum to Rs 1.2 lakh. He said in centenary year of Independence, UP aims to take the PCI beyond the national average.
Exports have grown from Rs 84,000 crore to 1.86 lakh crore, and the state budget has jumped from around 3 lakh crore to over Rs 8 lakh crore. He said state dependence on Central taxes reduced from 56% to 46%. "UP is no more BIMARU, but a revenue surplus state," Yogi said. Spelling out various measures initiated for the agricultural sector, Yogi said state accounted for only 10% of total cultivable land but contributed over 14% of the national need for foodgrains.
Yogi slammed opposition for staking claim to development projects, saying UP was fast becoming an expressway state in past eight years and hosting 16 domestic and four international airports. He said from 1947 to 2017, power sector struggled with limited capacity and irregular supply, and total production capacity was only 12,000 MW, insufficient to meet needs of industry, agriculture, and domestic consumption, especially in rural areas where irrigation, education, and small industries were affected by no electricity.
Govt is successfully meeting the demand that has more than doubled, he said. From 2017 to 2025, power generation capacity increased by 8,000 MW, due to which the total capacity has now increased to more than 20,000 MW. In just eight years, 40 new medical colleges have taken total number to over 80.
Stay updated with the latest local news from your
city
on
Times of India
(TOI). Check upcoming
bank holidays
,
public holidays
, and current
gold rates
and
silver prices
in your area.
Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with
Happy Independence Day wishes
,
messages
, and
quotes
!