CM Yogi's Sharp Jab at Critics: 'Without Security, They Turn into Scared Cats'

Addressing an official law enforcement gathering at Lok Bhavan in Lucknow on Thursday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took aim at armchair critics who question state security protocols from the comfort of closed rooms. The Chief Minister pointed out that regardless of an individual's societal stature or pride in high office, removing their security detail in chaotic conditions would quickly expose their cowardice. He underlined that constructive thought and genuine societal prosperity can thrive only when a robust, unyielding atmosphere of safety protects citizens, aligning directly with the Uttar Pradesh Police's guiding mission: "Your Security, Our Resolve."

Overcoming Policy Paralysis and Dismantling Pre-2017 Mafia Hegemony

Reflecting on the law and order environment prior to 2017, the Chief Minister remarked that the state was previously gripped by widespread policy paralysis where notorious mafia syndicates operated parallel governments across districts, leaving frontline police personnel helpless. Taking a veiled swipe at the Samajwadi Party regime that governed Uttar Pradesh between 2012 and 2017, he questioned how political leaders with compromised integrity could ever maintain public order. The Chief Minister pointed out that during those years, recurring communal violence across Kosi Kalan, Meerut, Aligarh, and Muzaffarnagar triggered prolonged curfews, saddling Uttar Pradesh with the derogatory "BIMARU" tag while police personnel lived in dilapidated barracks and key PAC battalions were disbanded.

Modernizing Police Training and Honoring Prakash Singh's Legal Battle

Recalling the institutional challenges of earlier decades, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath paid tribute to former Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Prakash Singh, who steered security forces through terrorism-affected phases in the Terai region before approaching the Supreme Court to mandate police reforms. Releasing Prakash Singh’s reflective book, "Sangharsh," the Chief Minister noted that real results emerge only when ideological clarity is combined with firm executive action. He highlighted that while previous administrations trained a meager 6,000 police personnel annually, modern Uttar Pradesh has systematically revamped training academy capacities, expanded institutional infrastructure, and created modern living quarters for police ranks across the state.

Digital Shield: 1.4 Million AI Cameras and 87 High-Tech Interceptor Vehicles

Underlining the essential integration of technological innovation with administrative reform, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reported that over 1.4 million surveillance cameras have been installed across urban centers under the Safe City project. These cameras feed real-time visual feeds directly into district-level Integrated Command and Control Centers (ICCC) to support crime deterrence and prompt investigation. At the event, the Chief Minister flagged off a modern fleet of 87 technology-driven interceptor vehicles to curb traffic violations and lower road fatalities. He also honored decorated police personnel, paying tribute to late STF Inspector Sunil Kumar Singh, whose battlefield courage was recognized by the Government of India with a posthumous Kirti Chakra—the first in the history of the Uttar Pradesh Police.