Early Times Report
LUCKNOW, Oct 17: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, "Uttar Pradesh was once under the influence of mafia rule, but the rule of law has now been established in the state. This is the strongest foundation for development, investment and public trust. At one time, UP was placed among the category of BIMARU states, and questions were raised about investment and law and order. However, through strong determination and an effective action plan, the state has transformed its position. Today, Uttar Pradesh is among the country's top three economies and is progressing as a revenue-surplus state."
The Chief Minister was addressing the fifth convocation ceremony of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University, Lucknow, on Saturday. He told young law graduates not to restrict law to sections and court cases alone, but to make public trust, the protection of rights and access to justice the foundation of their work. The vision of Viksit Bharat cannot be realized merely by building roads, factories and expressways. It requires strengthening a system based on justice, rights and duties.
He said, "Every person standing at the last rung of society must receive justice easily and accessibly, without discrimination. The greatest asset of law is not its sections, but the trust of the common people. This trust is strengthened through impartiality, respect for victims and the conduct of legal professionals. Legal professionals must remain committed to truth, Dharma, impartiality and the Constitution."
The Chief Minister informed, "Before 2017, the perception of the state was that investment was unsafe, connectivity was weak, and development opportunities were limited. People believed that Uttar Pradesh could not improve. Changing this perception required determination and an action plan that could deliver results. Establishing the rule of law was an important part of this transformation. We freed the state from mafia rule and established the rule of law. Earlier, the situation was such that even convoys of people holding administrative and constitutional positions would stop in front of a mafia figure in Prayagraj. Today, however, under the rule of law, the state is setting new benchmarks in development."
Presenting the convocation as a hypothetical court case, the Chief Minister said, "If 'Viksit Bharat 2047' were a case, 140 crore Indians would be the petitioners and young legal professionals would be their advocates. This case would require facts, evidence, arguments, and honest advocacy. The respondent would not be an individual or a political party, but the status quo-oriented mindset that refuses to accept that change is possible."
CM Yogi stated, "India's Independence, the implementation of the Constitution, the Emergency, landmark judicial decisions and reforms undertaken in the country could be regarded as important milestones in the nation's journey. The country became independent on August 15, 1947, and the Constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950. The imposition of the Emergency on June 25, 1975, highlighted the distinction between the 'rule of law' and the 'rule of the ruler'. |
