Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Monday, stated that media is a powerful medium to convey the sentiments of society to the government, adding that his government takes cognisance of all authentic news reports brought out by the media that are not propaganda.

Addressing the ‘Samvad’ programme of a media house organised at a hotel in Sushant Golf City in Lucknow, the chief minister went on to say that the government today considers every piece of news as a suggestion and takes cognisance of news reports based on facts.

The chief minister emphasised that the media, encompassing print, TV and increasingly, social and digital platforms, stands as a cornerstone of a flourishing democracy, exerting significant influence on society.

“Even today, the role of print media cannot be undermined. Each of these mediums has its own set of followers,” he stated.

He added, “Many people do not consider their day complete without reading a newspaper even today. At the same time, numerous individuals have connected with digital media through smartphones and have not turned on their televisions for years. Regardless of the platform, the foundation of media should be based solely on truth,” he said.

According to the chief minister, the media serves as a bridge between the people and government, making the latter aware of the former’s views and suggestions.

Moving beyond ‘Rising UP’ and discussing ‘Shining UP’, the chief minister mentioned that a lot has changed in the country in the past 10 years.

“India is respected globally today, with secure borders, effective internal governance and world-class infrastructure. The confidence of the people has gone up and people are benefiting from welfare schemes without discrimination. For the first time, the government is paying attention to fulfilling the livelihood needs of the people while respecting their faiths,” he remarked.

Emphasising that the perception of people about the state has completely changed since 2017, the chief minister stated: “Before 2017, more than 300 riots used to take place in the state in a year while curfew remained imposed for half of the year. Entrepreneurs were scared of investing in the state for lack of security of both themselves and their capital. From education to healthcare, everything was in complete disarray in the state.”

Contrasting the abysmal situation in the state before 2017 with the present day’s vibrant Uttar Pradesh, he pointed out that today the youth hold tablets in their hands, and not guns.

“Extortions no longer take place in Uttar Pradesh. Instead, there is the PM SVANidhi scheme for street vendors. Curfews are no longer imposed here; instead, Kanwar yatra is organised with enthusiasm. Uttar Pradesh has transitioned from a ‘breaker’ in the country’s development, to becoming a breakthrough since 2017. Through the recent GBC@4.0 (groundbreaking ceremony), we have brought an investment of Rs 10.24 lakh crores to the ground,” he remarked further.

Yogi emphasised that Uttar Pradesh, previously known for its potholes, has transformed into the ‘Expressway State’. He highlighted that the state currently boasts 40 per cent of the nation’s expressways, and with the completion of the Ganga Expressway by year-end, this figure will rise to 55 per cent.

He further noted the substantial growth in airports, from just two initially to nine operational now, with an additional ten airports set to be inaugurated on the prime minister’s direction.

“Uttar Pradesh is emerging as the world’s largest tourist spot. The state has unparalleled opportunities, with its exports reaching Rs 2 lakh crore through MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) alone. Schemes are being implemented for every section of society without discrimination, including youth, farmers, women, entrepreneurs, the elderly, divyanjans and destitute women. The outcome is evident – Uttar Pradesh can confidently claim to have the capability to become the growth engine of India’s economy,” he further added.