Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday, 2 October 2026, paid solemn tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his 157th birth anniversary and to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his 122nd birth anniversary, honouring both leaders for their enduring contributions to India's freedom movement, self-reliance, and nation-building.

Gandhi's Legacy and the Spirit of the Freedom Movement

Addressing the Gandhi Jayanti programme in Lucknow, Chief Minister Yogi reflected on what made India's independence movement a subject of wonder across the globe. He said Gandhi's role continues to inspire people worldwide, describing the Mahatma's extraordinary moral authority with characteristic candour.

'Across the world, it is a matter of curiosity and wonder for people as to what miraculous power was associated with India's independence movement, where a person who is half-naked, wearing a half-dhoti, is leading this movement, with a walking stick in hand as his only support. But the world has witnessed this miracle, that same India is now moving forward, turning the dreams of revered Bapu into reality,' he said.

Swachh Bharat, Cleanliness and Women's Dignity

Chief Minister Yogi underscored the importance of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, arguing that the cleanliness campaign extended well beyond hygiene — becoming, in his view, a vehicle for raising awareness about women's dignity. 'The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan not only became the foundation for cleanliness and a healthy India, but this campaign also taught every Indian a new lesson in protecting women's dignity, alongside raising awareness about cleanliness,' he said.

He urged all citizens to embed cleanliness and Swadeshi as daily habits, calling them the twin pillars of a self-reliant India rooted in Gandhian values. He also recalled his personal association with Khadi, noting that garments from the Gandhi Ashram had generated curiosity and enthusiasm in him during childhood.

Gram Swaraj: Villages as the Pillar of Self-Reliance

On the concept of Gram Swaraj, Yogi argued that Gandhi's vision of village-centred development had historically been neglected. 'Earlier, grand claims of development were made, but what was the reality? The village, which should have been the fundamental unit, was left neglected. Today, to realise revered Bapu's vision that villages must become the foundation of self-reliance, the government has established a Gram Sachivalaya in every village,' he said.

This comes amid the state government's sustained push to strengthen grassroots governance infrastructure across Uttar Pradesh's vast rural belt.

Tribute to Lal Bahadur Shastri and 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan'

Yogi also paid warm tribute to Lal Bahadur Shastri, describing India's second Prime Minister as a symbol of simplicity, gentleness, and unwavering nationalism. He credited Shastri's 1965 slogan 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' with laying the ideological foundation for India's food security.

'Today, India has achieved self-reliance in foodgrains. The foundation of this mantra was laid by the late Lal Bahadur Shastri Ji through the slogan he gave to the people of India in 1965,' he said.

Notably, the Uttar Pradesh government will offer a 25 per cent discount on Khadi clothes until 30 January 2027 as part of the Gandhi Jayanti observance — a gesture linking the occasion to tangible consumer outreach and support for the Swadeshi textile sector.