In a sharp political attack during a special session on women’s empowerment in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused opposition parties of consistently obstructing welfare measures aimed at improving women’s dignity, safety, and financial independence.
Addressing the House, the Chief Minister alleged that parties such as the Indian National Congress, Samajwadi Party, and the broader INDIA bloc have repeatedly opposed progressive initiatives designed to uplift women. “Any progressive step for the upliftment, respect, and self-reliance of women has always been opposed by the opposition parties,” he said, adding that similar resistance had been witnessed during debates in the Lok Sabha.
In a significant escalation of his criticism, Adityanath invoked the 1995 State Guest House Incident to question the opposition’s commitment to women’s dignity. Referring to the episode involving Mayawati, he said the incident remains a stark reminder of past political conduct.
“Everyone remembers the 1995 incident when the state’s first Dalit Chief Minister faced the guest house attack. That reflects the conduct of the Samajwadi Party,” he stated. He also credited the Bharatiya Janata Party for stepping in during the crisis, mentioning late leader Brahm Dutt Dwivedi for his role in ensuring Mayawati’s safety at the time.
The Chief Minister argued that such incidents raise serious concerns about the opposition’s record on women’s respect, adding that there exists a “long list” of similar examples.
Shifting focus to governance, Adityanath highlighted improvements in public health, particularly in tackling encephalitis, which had historically affected several districts in the state. He criticised previous governments for failing to curb the disease, asserting that the current administration has made significant progress.
“Encephalitis used to cause the highest number of deaths in your districts. You could not do anything. Today, under the double-engine government, there are no deaths from encephalitis in Uttar Pradesh,” he claimed.
The Chief Minister also addressed issues of rural safety, linking them to sanitation challenges in the past. He noted that the lack of proper toilet facilities had forced women into unsafe situations, particularly during evening hours, increasing their vulnerability to harassment.
He credited the Swachh Bharat Mission for transforming conditions across villages by promoting hygiene and building toilets, thereby enhancing women’s safety and dignity.
Continuing his attack, Adityanath accused opposition leaders of inconsistency, claiming their positions vary depending on the platform. “Your behaviour in Parliament and in this House is completely different. Even a chameleon would feel shy seeing how you change colours,” he remarked.
He concluded by reiterating that women’s safety, dignity, and health remain central to the government’s policy framework, attributing large-scale improvements to initiatives led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The remarks signal a renewed political confrontation in Uttar Pradesh, with women’s welfare and governance performance emerging as key battlegrounds ahead of future electoral contests.
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