Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday, 3 September declared that the state's 'real transformation' lies in remaining free of curfews and communal riots for over nine and a half years, adding that the celebration of festivals has now become the defining identity of Uttar Pradesh. He made the remarks while addressing a public gathering in Mathura during a two-day visit to mark the Janmashtami festival.

During the visit, CM Adityanath inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for several development projects with a combined outlay of approximately ₹1,051 crore.

Key Remarks by CM Adityanath

Addressing the gathering, Adityanath invoked a long arc of history — from the destruction of Hindu temples by foreign invaders to the British era — before drawing a sharp contrast with what he termed the 'previous regimes.' He specifically referenced the period before 2017 as a difficult time for the people of Mathura.

Citing the 2016 Mathura Jawahar Bagh clash, in which 29 people were killed, including two police officials, he questioned: 'What kind of anarchy was it? In such a situation, how could the people of the state think about celebrating festivals or about development?'

He also referenced the demolition of the Keshav Dev Mandir within the Krishna Janmasthan Temple complex by foreign invaders, the razing of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple by Aurangzeb, and the alleged demolition of a temple at Ayodhya by Babur in 1528 — arguing that Sanatan traditions endured despite these events. He credited Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar for her role in rebuilding the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

Tourism and Law-and-Order Claims

CM Adityanath cited tourism figures to support his governance claims, stating that 156 crore tourists visited Uttar Pradesh in 2025 — which he described as 'proof of a changing Uttar Pradesh, of better connectivity, of strong law and order, also proof of world-class infrastructure.'

He argued that devotees, tourists, and investors would only come to the state when they felt safe, pointing to large-scale Kawar Yatras as evidence of restored public confidence.

Attack on Previous Governments

Targeting the previous Samajwadi Party government, Adityanath alleged that rioters were 'felicitated at the CM residence' and that the state had witnessed prolonged communal unrest in Muzaffarnagar, Aligarh, Meerut, and Lucknow. 'The previous governments used to bow down before those who caused violence,' he said.

He contrasted that record with the current administration's claim of over nine and a half years without a single curfew or riot.

Development and Heritage Push

Adityanath framed his government's approach as a dual mandate: preserving heritage while driving development. He cited ongoing cultural and spiritual development work across religious towns including Mathura, Vrindavan, Kashi, Ayodhya, Vindhyachal, Chitrakoot, and Sarnath.

He also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for adding a new dimension — 'faith along with economy; tradition along with modernisation' — to the state's development model. With Janmashtami celebrations in full swing across Mathura, Adityanath's visit underscores the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) continued emphasis on religious tourism as a pillar of Uttar Pradesh's economic identity heading into future electoral cycles.