Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday, 2 October launched a sharp attack on the Opposition in Lucknow, declaring that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had 'emptied the pockets' of those who once 'looted' public money and ensured welfare funds reached the poor directly through government schemes. The remarks came during a gathering held after a theatre performance based on 'Namo Seva: Ankahi Kahaniyan' (Untold Stories), staged as part of the ongoing 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan'.

Attack on the Opposition and Jan Dhan

Targeting previous administrations — particularly the Samajwadi Party-led government in Uttar Pradesh — Adityanath alleged that critics once mocked the Jan Dhan account initiative, questioning the value of 'empty bank accounts'. He argued that history had since vindicated the scheme. 'Prime Minister Narendra Modi emptied the pockets of those who used to loot public money and ensured that funds meant for the poor reached their bank accounts directly,' he said. 'It is only natural for those who used to pocket public money to feel aggrieved and oppose these measures.'

He also alleged that between 2004 and 2014, the country was 'gripped by a sense of mistrust' owing to what he described as the 'corruption, anarchy, and inaction' of the Congress-led UPA government, during which he claimed India was counted among the so-called 'fragile five' economies and had 'lost respect in the world'.

Welfare Schemes and Grassroots Delivery

Adityanath credited the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana with ensuring that no citizen sleeps hungry, describing free foodgrains as a 'minimum guarantee for every poor person'. He also highlighted the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, saying it was 'for the first time farmers have been included in the agenda of a government' under Modi. The Chief Minister argued that earlier administrations formulated schemes that 'could not be implemented effectively at the grassroots level', a gap he claimed direct-benefit transfers had since closed.

Infrastructure and Aspirational India

The Chief Minister pointed to expansion in highways, expressways, railways, metro systems, and airports under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government as evidence of transformative change. He invoked a pointed image: 'In the past, no Prime Minister could claim that even a person wearing simple rubber slippers could travel by air. Prime Minister Modi did not merely speak of this; he turned it into reality.' He also cited growth in the startup ecosystem, the Mission Rozgar initiative, new IITs, medical colleges, and engineering institutions as markers of opportunity for the youth.

Modi's Gujarat Record Cited

Referencing the 2002 earthquake in Gujarat, Adityanath credited Modi — then Gujarat's Chief Minister — with rebuilding the state under difficult circumstances, including subsequent communal unrest. 'His visionary leadership transformed Gujarat into a model state,' he said, framing that tenure as a precursor to the national governance model adopted after 2014.

Political Context

The remarks were made on Gandhi Jayanti, a date with symbolic resonance in Indian political discourse, adding an additional layer of intent to the event's framing. This is not the first time Adityanath has used public cultural events to mount a political offensive; the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan has become a recurring platform for BJP leaders to highlight Central government welfare delivery ahead of electoral cycles. As Uttar Pradesh remains the BJP's most crucial state, Adityanath's comments signal continued effort to consolidate the party's narrative around direct benefit transfers and infrastructure as proof of governance over the Opposition's record.