Youngsters should be made aware of UP's condition before 2017: Adityanath
Gorakhpur (UP) (PTI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday urged intellectuals and opinion makers to educate the younger generation about the condition of the state before 2017 and the transformation witnessed in recent years.
Addressing the "Prabuddh Samvad" programme organised by the BJP's Rapti Nagar Mandal at a marriage hall in Gorakhpur, Adityanath said youngsters must be made aware of the "era of riots, curfews, lawlessness and appeasement politics", so that such a situation does not return.
He said many youngsters today were too young to understand the condition of Uttar Pradesh 10 years ago. "If we do not tell the present generation what the state faced earlier, they will forget the consequences of misgovernance and appeasement politics," he said.
The chief minister alleged that before 2017, the state suffered from "goondaism, corruption, anarchy and exploitation by regional parties". He claimed that traders were forced to pay the "goonda tax", women felt unsafe and employment opportunities were limited, forcing many to migrate.
Highlighting the changes under the present government, Adityanath said Uttar Pradesh now offers development, security and employment opportunities.
Referring to Gorakhpur, he said the fertiliser plant has resumed operations, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is functioning smoothly and the Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College has improved healthcare services.
The chief minister added that industrial projects worth Rs 15,000 crore have generated jobs for nearly 50,000 youngsters in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Adityanath said India has emerged as a global inspiration under his leadership.
Referring to global tensions and rising fuel prices, he appealed to people to conserve fuel and adopt alternatives, such as solar energy, public transport, electric vehicles and carpooling.
Calling intellectuals the "opinion makers of the society", he said teachers, doctors, lawyers and entrepreneurs have a responsibility to guide people in the right direction. He also urged citizens to remain balanced during both favourable and challenging times.
Local MP Ravi Kishan and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC Dharmendra Singh also addressed the programme. Mayor Manglesh Srivastava and several BJP leaders, professionals and social workers were present.
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Youth Congress demands Pradhan's resignation over NEET question paper leak
Bhubaneswar (PTI): Youth Congress activists on Friday staged a protest here demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET question paper leak.
Holding posters, banners and party flags, the Youth Congress activists took out a protest rally in Bhubaneswar from the state Congress office to Master Canteen Square and burnt effigies of Pradhan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The education system has collapsed during the tenure of the BJP-led NDA government, Youth Congress leader Laxmipriya Nayak alleged.
During the past 12 years of Modi's rule, there have been 89 paper leaks and 48 examinations retested, she claimed.
"About 2 crore youths have been affected by the question paper leaks in the last 7-10 years. And, 24 lakh students have been affected by the recent NEET question paper leak incident," another protester, Shilpishree Harichandan, claimed.
"The Union government is playing with the future of the youths of the country. So, Pradhan has no moral right to continue in his position. He should step down," Harichandan said.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) had cancelled the NEET-UG exam, held on May 3, after a paper leak. The Union education minister on Friday announced that the NEET-UG re-exam will be conducted on June 21.
