U.P.’s efforts in tackling COVID-19 second wave unprecedented and remarkable, says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi being welcomed by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in Varanasi, on July 15. (Twitter image posted by @PMOIndia) | Photo Credit: PTI
Primie Minister Narendra Modi said that till four years ago, Uttar Pradesh had only a dozen-odd medical colleges and that they have now increased four-fold.
“The way Uttar Pradesh handled the second wave of COVID-19 and checked the spread of infection was unprecedented,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi on Thursday as he praised the efforts of the BJP-ruled State during the pandemic.
“In tackling corona, Uttar Pradesh’s efforts are ‘ullekhniya’ (remarkable),” the PM said, adding that the entire State, including Varanasi, fought the changing and deadly forms of the virus with full force.
Mr. Modi said the people of Uttar Pradesh had also lived through a phase when they faced numerous problems in tackling diseases such as encephalitis and ‘brain fever.’
Speaking at a public meeting after inaugurating several projects in his constituency, the Prime Minister said that earlier due to the lack of health facilities and lack of will power even a small crisis would turn ghastly in Uttar Pradesh.
He thanked ‘corona warriors’, officials and others involved in tackling COVID-19 in Varanasi and said their efforts amounted to a “big seva” (huge service). It was due to them that the situation in Uttar Pradesh was under control, he said.
Mr. Modi stressed that the Uttar Pradesh was today the State with the highest testing and vaccination in the country.
“Through this campaign ‘Sabko vaccine, muft vaccine’, the poor, middle class, farmers, youth, are all getting administered free vaccine by the government,” he said.
There was an unprecedented improvement in the medical infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh. Till four years ago, the State had only a dozen or so medical colleges and that they now had increased four-fold. Steady work was also on to build 550 oxygen plants, he said.
PM praises Adityanath
Mr. Modi lavished praise on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his hard work.
“It is not that before 2017, there were no schemes for U.P. or that funds were not sent. Even since 2014, swift efforts were made from Delhi. But hurdles would come up in Lucknow,” Mr. Modi said.
“Today, Yogi ji himself is working hard. The people of Kashi have seen how he regularly comes here. He reviews development schemes and invests his own energy to accelerate the development works. He [Yogi] strives like this for the entire State,” Mr. Modi said.
The PM also praised Uttar Pradesh for its law and order situation under Mr. Adityanath.
“There is rule of law in U.P. today. Mafiaraj and terrorism, which were once out of control, now are under the grip of law. The criminals who raise an eye at women know that they cannot escape from the law,” he said.
Today the government in Uttar Pradesh was not working through corruption and ‘bhai-bhatijavad’ but through ‘vikasvad’. “That’s why today the public is directly benefiting from the schemes meant for them,” he said.