CM Yogi Cancels Police Leaves, Orders 24-Hour Vigil and Crackdown on Fertilizer
Reviewing statewide security and civic arrangements ahead of the major festive stretch—including Dhanteras, Diwali, Ayodhya Deepotsav, and Chhath Mahaparva—Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued an uncompromising warning on Tuesday, declaring that any conspiracy to turn celebratory joy into communal unrest or public disorder will be met with immediate and decisive state action. Chairing a high-level video conference with senior administrative and law enforcement brass from the state capital in Lucknow, the Chief Minister mandated a strict 'zero-tolerance' operational protocol against anti-social elements, ordered the immediate cancellation of leave for all administrative, municipal, and police personnel from the state secretariat down to local police stations, and instructed power distribution companies to guarantee uninterrupted 24-hour electricity across both urban and rural Uttar Pradesh throughout the festival period.
24/7 Social Media Surveillance, Ayodhya Deepotsav Routes, and Firecracker Safeguards
To prevent digital disinformation from igniting ground friction, the Chief Minister directed district police units and specialized cyber monitoring cells to track internet platforms and social media channels 24 hours a day, ordering swift punitive action against rumor-mongers attempting to disrupt social harmony. With the flagship Ayodhya Deepotsav scheduled for November 7, 2026, administrative authorities were instructed to finalize and publicize comprehensive vehicular route diversion plans well in advance to ensure smooth transit for the influx of pilgrims and tourists. Simultaneously, round-the-clock armed deployments, intensive foot patrolling, and real-time CCTV monitoring have been mandated across high-footfall commercial corridors and jewelry markets for Dhanteras and Diwali shopping. On fire safety, the state administration ordered that retail firecracker stalls be permitted exclusively within open designated grounds away from congested residential pockets, requiring fire and revenue departments to fast-track safety licenses and No Objection Certificates (NOCs) while enforcing strict storage safety norms.
Crackdown on Fertilizer Black Marketing, Transport Fare Caps, and Welfare Clearances
Taking sharp notice of agrarian grievances during the meeting, Chief Minister Adityanath sternly reprimanded District Magistrates from more than ten districts—including Ghazipur, Ballia, Bahraich, Bijnor, Ambedkar Nagar, Sultanpur, and Lakhimpur Kheri—over reported bottlenecks and black-marketing of essential urea and DAP fertilizers. Law enforcement agencies were directed to register immediate First Information Reports (FIRs) against dealers and hoarders engineering artificial shortages or selling agricultural inputs above officially regulated retail rates. On the civic and welfare fronts, the Urban Development and Panchayati Raj departments were instructed to execute saturation cleanliness drives across municipal wards, while the Transport Department was tasked with deploying dedicated festive bus fleets and penalizing private travel operators exploiting commuters through arbitrary fare hikes. To ensure financial cheer among government affiliates, the Chief Minister further ordered the immediate clearance of pending medical reimbursement claims for pensioners and mandated that monthly honorariums for Anganwadi workers and outsourced municipal staff be disbursed prior to the commencement of Diwali.
