Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday, 12 October declared that the state, once plagued by concerns over women's safety, has emerged as a 'new symbol of security and strength of feminine power' under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. Speaking on the occasion of the second day of Navaratri, the Chief Minister credited a multi-pronged strategy spanning policing, technology, and policy for the transformation.

Before and After 2017: A Sharp Contrast

Chief Minister Yogi drew a pointed comparison between the pre-2017 era and the present. 'Before the year 2017, Uttar Pradesh was surrounded by questions regarding women's safety; today, it has become the new symbol of the security and strength of feminine power,' he said. The BJP government assumed office in Uttar Pradesh in March 2017, and the Chief Minister argued that the intervening 9.5 years have brought structural change rather than incremental improvement.

Key Initiatives Cited

Adityanath attributed the shift to a 'zero-tolerance policy toward crime and criminals, technology-based surveillance, swift police action, and public awareness campaigns.' He specifically highlighted five phases of Mission Shakti, the Safe City project, Mission Shakti centres, and women's beat policing as pillars of the safety framework. These programmes, he argued, have collectively built a 'comprehensive and robust foundation' for women's security across the state.

Women Police Force Expansion

One of the more concrete figures cited by the Chief Minister was the expansion of Uttar Pradesh's women police force — from 10,000 to more than 44,000 personnel, backed by a 20 per cent reservation mandate. Additionally, three women PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary) battalions have been established: one in Lucknow named after Veerangana Uda Devi Pasi, one in Gorakhpur after Veerangana Jhalkari Bai Kore, and one in Badaun after Veerangana Avantibai Lodhi.

Navaratri Message and Political Framing

Extending greetings on the second day of Navaratri, dedicated to Goddess Brahmacharini, Yogi said: 'The mantra of success attained through the penance and resolve of Mother Brahmacharini teaches us that even goals that appear impossible can be achieved with firm determination.' The remarks were framed within the broader slogan of 'Empowered Women, Prosperous Uttar Pradesh,' which Adityanath described as the governing resolve of the BJP's 'double-engine government' — a reference to the BJP being in power at both the state and the Centre.

What Comes Next

Adityanath's remarks come as Uttar Pradesh prepares for its next assembly election cycle, making the women's safety narrative a politically significant one. Whether independent assessments of crime data corroborate the government's claims of a transformed security environment will likely remain a point of scrutiny from opposition parties. The Chief Minister did not cite specific crime statistics during the address, relying instead on programme-level metrics such as force strength and infrastructure expansion.