Yogi starts innings by delivery

On the first day at work as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister on Monday, Yogi Adityanath said his Government’s top priority would be to ensure zero tolerance against corruption. While interacting with bureaucrats, the new CM asked them to file returns of their assets wit in 15 days.

On a day when the CM told Government officials to sincerely implement the BJP’s election manifesto ‘Sankalp Patra’, Allahabad Police shut down two ‘illegal’ slaughterhouses at Rambagh and Atala areas. The Government officials were handed over copies of the BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’.

“People have reposed their faith in the manifesto and given a huge mandate to the party. Study each point of the ‘Sankalp Patra’ and implement it in a responsive manner,” said the CM, adding that honest and responsive officers will be posted at all important positions and a citizen’s charter will be prepared for each department for improving service delivery by various agencies of the State Government.

Addressing the first meeting of Principal Secretaries and Secretaries in Lucknow, Yogi stressed on special emphasis on working of police stations and Tehsils.

“Police stations and Tehsil offices will be freed from political pressure and interference. These two institutions are pivotal as they serve over 90 per cent of the population,” said the Chief Minister.

Referring to the agriculture sector, Adityanath asked officials to ensure payment of remunerative prices of produce to the farmers under minimum support price scheme.

He said adequate arrangements should be made for storage and warehousing of agro-produce and sincere effort be made for promoting agro- based and allied industries.

The CM asked them to develop a new work culture in the State where administration is responsive, accountable and dynamic. He asked civil servants to take tough action against anti-socials so as to ensure peaceful life for the common people.

Two Deputy Chief Ministers — Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma — too were present during the interaction. Earlier in the morning, the CM summoned officials and enquired about crime incidents in Allahabad, Agra and Auraiyya.

While neither previous regime’s officials have been removed nor Ministers have been allotted portfolios, the CM met several officials in his camp office at the VIP guest house, said sources.

They said Chief Secretary Rahul Bhatnagar, DGP Javeed Ahmed, Principal Secretary Home Debashish Panda and Principal Secretary Information Navneet Sehgal met the CM.

After the meeting, Yogi, along with his Council of Ministers, went to the Raj Bhawan to attend a tea party organised by Governor Ram Naik in the evening.

Earlier in the day, priests from Gorakhpur organised a ‘puja’ at the CM’s official residence at 5, Kalidas Marg after which Yogi was to shift to the new accommodation.