Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said freedom does not merely mean political independence, but complete liberation from anarchy, backwardness, poverty, illiteracy and inequality.
Speaking at his official residence in Lucknow after hoisting the Tricolour on Independence Day, Adityanath said the freedom Indians enjoy today was made possible by the sacrifices, penance and martyrdom of the country's great freedom fighters.
He said India was enslaved because of internal divisions and conspiracies, but its people never accepted foreign rule in their hearts and minds.
Recalling the First War of Independence in 1857, Adityanath highlighted the contributions of freedom fighters including Mangal Pandey in Barrackpore, Rani Lakshmibai in Jhansi and Dhan Singh Kotwal in Meerut.
“Freedom does not merely mean political freedom. It means complete liberation from the anarchy, backwardness, poverty, illiteracy and inequality due to which the country has been continuously weakened,” he said, noting that India had completed 79 years of independence.
The BJP leader said the country had made significant progress in tackling poverty, illiteracy and inequality over the past eight decades. He said 25 crore people had been lifted out of poverty, access to education had expanded, government schemes were reaching all sections of society without discrimination, and world-class infrastructure had been developed.
Adityanath also urged people to remain vigilant against forces seeking to divide the country. Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said government schemes over the past 12 years had focused on four key groups, the poor, youth, women and farmers.
He also congratulated Uttar Pradesh police personnel who were honoured for their service. Paying tribute to Inspector Sunil Kumar, he said the officer had made the ultimate sacrifice while upholding the rule of law and noted that he was the first Uttar Pradesh sub-inspector to be awarded the Kirti Chakra.
(With inputs from PTI)
