Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's completion of 25 years of continuous public service as a historic milestone, describing it as a journey 'from a small village in Gujarat to the global stage.' Speaking at the Seva Jyoti Yatra – Vikasit Bharat Sankalp Sabha held at Patel Park, Hazratganj, Lucknow, the Chief Minister said the occasion was 'a matter of pride for every Indian.'

The Occasion and Setting

The event, convened under the banner of the Vikasit Bharat Sankalp Sabha, drew a large gathering at Patel Park in central Lucknow. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath used the platform to trace Modi's political arc — from taking oath as Chief Minister of Gujarat on 7 October 2001, during a period of severe crisis in the state following a devastating natural disaster, to his current role as Prime Minister presiding over the world's fifth-largest economy.

'On this day in 2001, Narendra Modi took the oath of office and secrecy as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. At that time, Gujarat was facing a severe crisis. The entire country was concerned about the devastation caused by the disaster in Gujarat,' Yogi said.

Economic Transformation Cited

Chief Minister Yogi drew a pointed contrast between India's economic standing over the past decade and its current position. He noted that roughly 12 years ago, India was classified among the so-called 'Fragile Five' economies — considered among the weakest globally — and carried one of the lowest per capita incomes in the world.

'Today, we can proudly say that India has succeeded in securing a place among the top five economies globally,' he said, attributing the transformation to Modi's governance. This narrative aligns with India's official GDP rankings but critics have noted that per capita income remains a persistent challenge despite headline growth.

Infrastructure and Connectivity Highlights

Yogi highlighted sweeping changes in India's transport infrastructure under the current administration. He pointed to the electrification of rail networks, the launch of Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat, and Namo Bharat trains, and the development of the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors as markers of transformation.

'There was a time when railway speeds were limited to around 80 kilometres per hour. A freight train could take several days to travel from Kolkata to Delhi,' he said, contrasting that with what he described as a world-class rail network today. The dedicated freight corridors, he argued, have separated goods movement from passenger traffic — a logistical overhaul that had long been pending.

Jan Dhan, DBT and Anti-Corruption Framing

The Chief Minister also highlighted the role of the Jan Dhan Yojana and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in routing welfare funds directly to citizens, bypassing intermediaries. Invoking political sharpness, he said those who initially mocked Jan Dhan accounts as empty gestures had missed the point — that the scheme was, in his words, 'a strike against the corruption of the Congress and the INDI alliance.'

'Today, through DBT, the money released from Delhi or Lucknow goes directly into the accounts of the poor, women, farmers, youth and workers,' Yogi said, framing the scheme as a structural anti-corruption mechanism. He added that Modi's 25-year journey had also prioritised women's security, farmers' welfare, and youth employment.

Looking Ahead

The event is part of a broader Seva Jyoti Yatra marking the milestone, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expected to hold similar commemorative gatherings across other states in the coming days. The messaging — anchored on development, economic ascent, and welfare delivery — signals a sharpening of the BJP's political narrative ahead of upcoming state election cycles.