Yogi says Raebareli has changed as he unveils Rs 800 crore projects

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Raebareli has changed under BJP-led governments while inaugurating development projects worth over Rs 800 crore. He credited the BJP with improving infrastructure, industrial growth and welfare delivery, while attacking the Congress and Samajwadi Party for allegedly leaving the district deprived and underdeveloped.Yogi Adityanath (File Photo: ITG)Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said Raebareli, a constituency long associated with the Congress, had changed under BJP-led governments. Speaking at a programme to mark the 222nd birth anniversary of 1857 uprising hero Rana Beni Madhav Baksh Singh, he inaugurated development projects worth more than Rs 800 crore.Adityanath said the district, once described as a "VIP" constituency, had remained marked by "anarchy, deprivation and lack of development" in the past. He said development in Raebareli would help fulfil the aspirations of young people, improve the condition of farmers and provide greater opportunities and dignity to artisans and workers. He also targeted the Congress and the Samajwadi Party during his speech."Raebareli has changed now," the chief minister said. Raebareli has for decades been a major Congress stronghold. Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi represented the constituency in the Lok Sabha for several terms, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is the sitting MP from Raebareli.Taking a swipe at successive Congress governments, Adityanath referred to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's widely cited observation that only 15 paise of every rupee sent by the Centre reached the intended beneficiaries. "This was because the remaining money was siphoned off by people associated with the Congress and Samajwadi Party," he said, while claiming that BJP governments had ensured better delivery of welfare schemes to the poor. He highlighted the modern coach factory in Raebareli as an example of the district's changing industrial profile. Adityanath said the factory, set up in 2012 during the Congress-led UPA government, produced 2,106 coaches in 2025-26 under his government, which he described as a "record production" figure. He added that, for the first time, a complete Vande Bharat train set was rolled out from the factory in May 2026, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision. "Raebareli's name is now being taken with pride not only in Uttar Pradesh but across the country," he said.Adityanath said development was necessary for creating jobs, raising farmers' incomes and supporting workers and artisans. Crediting BJP governments for speeding up development in Raebareli, he urged people to support the process. "You cannot bring development. You have no interest in the development of Raebareli. As a responsible leader, you should conduct yourself in a manner that sets an example before the people," he said. He also said, "For the longest period, Congress and people supported by Congress have represented Raebareli and Amethi, but they never worked to honour the revolutionaries and heroes who fought for India's freedom. They believe honour should be reserved for only one family and it is only their family." He added that Congress believed only Congress should be honoured, while the Samajwadi Party believed only its "family syndicate" or Yadav clan should be respected."This 'family syndicate' is such that any goon in your town, area, district or state finds himself ideologically close to the Samajwadi Party. Their work was to occupy the land of the poor, extort money from traders and compromise the safety of daughters," he alleged. He said earlier governments deprived young people of jobs, restricted electricity and welfare benefits, occupied poor people's land and compromised women's safety. "But Uttar Pradesh has changed today. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, we are seeing a new Uttar Pradesh," he said.Adityanath said his government followed a zero-tolerance policy towards crime and added, "If anyone compromises the safety of daughters and traders, there will be only two places for them: Either jail or hell. There is no third place." In his speech, the chief minister linked Raebareli's development, industrial growth and welfare delivery to the BJP governments, while sharply attacking the Congress and the Samajwadi Party.- EndsPublished By: Sayan GangulyPublished On: Aug 24, 2026 18:10 IST