Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday, 15 October declared that lands previously held by criminal elements across the state will be reclaimed and used to build homes for the poor, the marginalised, and Dalits. He made the remarks while addressing the Swachhta Mitra Samman Sammaroh in Varanasi, delivering a pointed attack on the preceding Samajwadi Party (SP) government.

Prayagraj Housing Project on Reclaimed Land

Chief Minister Adityanath is scheduled to perform the bhoomi pujan of Padma Lok Apartment, a multi-storey residential complex to be constructed in Prayagraj on government land reclaimed from the possession of mafia leader Atiq Ahmed, according to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office issued on Wednesday.

'The only place for the mafia is underground. Lands once occupied by the mafias will now become sites for homes for the poor. In Prayagraj, the construction of multi-storey residential buildings for the poor, the marginalised, and the Dalits will soon commence on land reclaimed from the mafia,' Adityanath said at the event.

He asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led 'double-engine' government remains fully committed to protecting the interests of the underprivileged in Uttar Pradesh.

Sharp Attack on the Previous Government

In an apparent reference to Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Adityanath took a veiled jibe: 'If a public representative — or a leader — wakes up as late as noon, remains preoccupied solely with their own family, and makes the mistake of equating their family with the entire society or state, then destruction is inevitable.'

He also criticised elected representatives who, after winning their seats, settle in Lucknow and 'never return to visit their constituencies', arguing that real change can only come from leaders who treat the entire state and nation as their own family.

Adityanath further alleged that before 2014, the lanes of Varanasi were plagued by filth, traffic congestion, and persistent power cuts, with stray cattle on roads and land mafias seizing properties of the poor. 'Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kashi has undergone a complete transformation,' he said.

New Protections for Sanitation Workers

The Chief Minister also used the occasion to announce stronger safeguards for sanitation workers, stating that wage deductions — a reportedly common practice in the past — would no longer be tolerated. 'Any individual found cutting the pay of sanitation workers will face strict action,' he warned.

Adityanath outlined a package of welfare measures for sanitation workers through the Uttar Pradesh Outsource Corporation, including a minimum honorarium of ₹16,000 per month, access to medical treatment under the ESI (Employees' State Insurance) scheme, insurance coverage, Provident Fund (PF) benefits, and financial assistance to the families of workers who die in accidents.

'They will also have their own savings upon retirement, sparing them from having to depend on others,' he added.

Mahakumbh Cleanliness Record Cited

Highlighting the scale and quality of sanitation work, Adityanath noted that a high standard of cleanliness was maintained during the Prayagraj Mahakumbh — even as 66 crore pilgrims arrived — and attributed this directly to the efforts of sanitation staff working round the clock, including during festivals and harsh weather.

With the Padma Lok Apartment bhoomi pujan imminent, the occasion signals a continuing push by the Yogi administration to frame anti-mafia enforcement as both a law-and-order win and a welfare dividend for Uttar Pradesh's poorest residents.