Oppn contests Adityanath's claims, says UP progressing at bullock-cart speed

Opposition parties Thursday contested Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's claims on development and law and order during the first half of his term, with the Samajwadi Party saying Uttar Pradesh is moving at the speed of a bullock cart.

"The UP government is making false claims and celebrating the completion of two-and-a-half years. People thought that with a double engine the state's progress will gain momentum, but it is moving ahead at a snail's pace," SP president Akhilesh Yadav said.

The double engine was a reference to the BJP's earlier claim that the state will develop quicker with the same party in power in Lucknow and at the Centre.

"The pace of the state's development is not that of a double-engine machine but of a bullock cart," Yadav said.

The opposition attack followed Adityanath's press conference here on his government reaching the mid-point of its five-year term. Adityanath had claimed that the perception about the state has changed during his term and the improvement in law and order had played an important role in this.

There has not been a single incident of riot in the state in the past two-and-half years," Adityanath said, referring apparently to large-scale communal clashes. The Opposition parties disagreed.

"The chief minister's claims on law and order are far from truth. The reality is that during his tenure crime against girls has hit an all-time high, Yadav said.

So many murders never took place in the past, he claimed. UP has surpassed other states in incidents of loot, rape and murder."
Congress spokesperson Awasthi asked, "What happened to the promise to the youth on providing jobs?"