Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has defended the state government’s zero-tolerance approach towards crime, claiming that the policy over the past nine-and-a-half years has curbed criminal elements, strengthened the rule of law and helped create a safer environment across the state.
In a post on social media platform X on Saturday, Adityanath invoked Goddess Kaalratri, the seventh form of Goddess Durga worshipped during Navratri, to underline his government’s stated commitment to combating crime, protecting women and promoting a society based on justice and fearlessness.
The Chief Minister said that before 2017, Uttar Pradesh had faced an atmosphere of fear and disorder associated with mafias, rioters and criminals. He claimed that the government’s subsequent approach had helped establish the rule of law and improve conditions for women and girls.
Yogi Adityanath Invokes Goddess Kaalratri on Crime and Justice
Linking the religious significance of Goddess Kaalratri with his government’s approach to law enforcement, Adityanath said the destruction of evil and the establishment of righteousness were essential to creating a society founded on justice, peace and security.
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He described the goddess as a symbol of the destruction of malevolent forces and the establishment of Dharma, or righteousness.
The Chief Minister used this symbolism to reiterate his government’s position against crime and criminal activity, while connecting law and order with women’s safety, education and self-reliance.
Women’s Safety Initiatives Highlighted by UP CM
Adityanath cited several programmes and policing measures that the state government has introduced or expanded to improve safety for women and girls.
The initiatives highlighted by the Chief Minister include:
- Mission Shakti: A state initiative focused on women’s safety, dignity and empowerment.
- Integrated 1090 helpline: A dedicated helpline associated with addressing complaints involving women.
- Women-focused beat policing: Police outreach and monitoring measures intended to address women’s safety concerns.
- Safe City project: An initiative aimed at improving safety in urban public spaces.
According to Adityanath, these measures are intended to improve security for women at home, on public streets, in educational institutions and at workplaces.
CM Claims Police Response Time Reduced to Five Minutes
The Chief Minister also cited a reduction in police response time as evidence of improvements in the state’s emergency response arrangements.
According to his statement, police response time has declined from 65 minutes in 2016 to five minutes at present.
Adityanath described the reduction as an indication of the administration’s preparedness and its focus on public safety.
The figure reflects the Chief Minister’s claim; the post cited in the available reporting did not provide the underlying dataset or explain the methodology used to calculate the response times.
Women’s Workforce Participation in UP Cited as a Sign of Change
Adityanath also linked the improvement in women’s security, as assessed by his government, to greater participation by women in economic activities.
He cited an increase in Uttar Pradesh’s female labour force participation rate from 12% to more than 36%.
The Chief Minister said women were increasingly contributing to agriculture, industry, services and entrepreneurship, and described their participation as an important part of the state’s economic development.
He also linked women’s growing economic role to the rise in Uttar Pradesh’s gross state domestic product and per capita income. These statements were part of the Chief Minister’s assessment of the state’s development; the figures require comparison with official statistical sources to establish their definitions, reference periods and comparability.
Zero-Tolerance Policy Remains Central to UP Government’s Law-and-Order Position
Adityanath’s remarks reiterate a central theme of his government’s public messaging on policing and governance: a zero-tolerance approach towards crime and criminal activity.
The Chief Minister has argued that maintaining law and order is essential to ensuring women’s safety, expanding opportunities for education and employment, and supporting economic activity.
His latest statement brings together the government’s claims on crime control, emergency response, women’s safety and economic participation, while invoking the religious symbolism of Navratri to reinforce its message on justice and the elimination of wrongdoing.
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