Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak is the new crisis manager for the BJP. In the run-up to the 2024 election battle, Pathak’s people skills have often come to the BJP’s rescue, be it the Kanpur Dehat violence or Lucknow’s Alaya apartment collapse. As the UP government gears up to present its budget for 2023 under the spotlight of the Global Investors Summit, Pathak in an exclusive conversation with News18, discusses investments in the state, what the new budget will mean for people from all walks of life Have brought Also the politics of the Samajwadi Party.
Edited excerpts:
‘Crisis manager’ is probably a new term for you. You are here, there and everywhere, especially when the image of the government is at stake. Be it Kanpur Dehat violence, Lakhimpur Kheri violence, Hindutva leader Kamlesh Tiwari murder case, the recent case of Alaya apartment collapse in Lucknow or others, you helped deal with the situation with utmost dexterity. How do you see this transformation from a minister to the image keeper of the government?
I don’t think I have done anything extraordinary. We are humans first and then politicians. Being a minister or deputy chief minister of a state, it is our responsibility to share the pain of people and pacify them in times of need. I did the same in the Kanpur Dehat violence incident where I personally interacted with the victim’s family members via video call and was successful in consoling them.
The opposition alleges that an FIR was lodged against the SDM, police and others in the incident of burning two women alive in Kanpur Dehat on February 13, but no action was taken against the higher officials. What is your opinion on this? Will there be justice?
Yes, I had promised the family that the wrongdoers would be punished. I will personally ensure that responsibility for the incident is fixed and action is also taken against the erring officials. An SIT investigation is underway, the guilty will be punished and all possible help and support will be extended to the family members in this hour of need.
According to the opposition, the ‘bulldozer policy’ launched in UP to control criminals and deal with the law and order situation is being misused. In a recent Twitter post, Rahul Gandhi Talked about ‘dictatorship’ in the context of the Kanpur incident. What is your take on this?
As I said earlier, no one will be spared. Be it Kanpur Dehat incident or others, responsibility will be fixed and action will be initiated against the guilty officers.
Uttar Pradesh is ready to announce its budget 2023. What will be the focus areas this time? Will it live up to the expectations of the common man?
Budget 2023 is going to be the most progressive budget presented in UP so far. We are bringing a budget which will be for all and will ensure the overall development of the state. It will include infrastructural development of UP, women, it will include welfare schemes and policies for students, youth and farmers. This will be the common man’s budget.
18,643 MoUs worth Rs 32 lakh crore were signed at the Global Investors Summit. The opposition is calling it an exaggerated figure and an attempt is being made to divert the attention of the people from the failures of the government. What is your take on this?
The narrative of Uttar Pradesh has changed. During the previous Samajwadi Party (SP) regime, UP was all about mafia raj, high crime graph, crime against women, riots, violence, kidnapping and dacoity. But, the scenario has changed. UP is now known for its skyrocketing growth and infrastructural development. We are number one in infrastructure; UP has the maximum number of expressways, the best rail network in the country, the maximum number of international airports and 17 new ones are proposed.
Under Jal Jeevan Yojana, we are giving water connection to every house, we are building schools under Kayakalp Yojana, work is going on at Anganwadi centers. We are number one in vaccination and the infant mortality rate is declining. This is the new UP. Therefore, this kind of comment by the opposition is an attempt to tarnish the new image of UP.
What efforts will be made to make the huge investment proposals of Rs 32 lakh crore a reality?
We have appointed a special secretary level officer for this purpose. The officer and his team will not only coordinate with the investors but also ensure that they do not face any hurdle while investing in UP. In the next six months, we will hold a grand ground-breaking ceremony to celebrate the success of the summit.
How much investment did UP’s health sector attract in the summit?
In all, investment proposals worth Rs 54,000 crore were received in UP’s health sector. As the Deputy Chief Minister of the state, who has also been entrusted with the health portfolio, I will ensure that the proposed projects get off the ground soon.
Health has always been a priority for the government. The opposition is often seen blaming the UP health department for poor services, especially in rural areas. How do you take such criticism as the health minister of the state?
These allegations are baseless. I must say that currently Uttar Pradesh has the best medical infrastructure. In 2017, when the BJP government came to power in UP for the first time, there were only 13 medical colleges. Presently 65 medical colleges are under construction. Only 14 districts are left where medical colleges are to be established.
Apart from medical colleges, we are setting up around 25,000 health and wellness centers in the state. There are about 9,000 health centres, over 1,000 community health centres, 92 district hospitals and super multispeciality hospitals. That’s why now UP will not lag behind in health services. The government will ensure that the proposed investment takes UP’s health services to new heights.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi aimed to make India Tuberculosis free by 2025. UP Governor Anandiben Patel said in a statement that all officers and ministers should adopt a TB patient to make UP TB free. What has been done on the front so far?
Uttar Pradesh will be TB free before 2025. UP health department is making efforts to identify TB patients and ensure smooth adoption process. During my recent visit to Bareilly, I had adopted around 56 TB patients. We are at work and UP will be TB free state very soon.
Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya’s controversial statement that Ramcharitmanas written by Tulsidas used objectionable language against Dalits and tribals has created a stir. What’s your take on the line?
Samajwadi Party is doing cheap politics. UP is growing, excelling in all fields. Unlike the previous SP government, which was known only for ‘Gunda Raj’, the BJP government has taken the development of UP to new heights. When Maurya was left with nothing, he took up the issue. The statement was made to gain cheap popularity and nothing else.
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