Gorakhpur, Oct 31 (Representative) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday celebrated Diwali with the residents of Vantangiya village, Jungle Tinkonia Number Three, sharing in the festive spirit with the forest-dwelling community. In his address, the CM emphasised social unity and delivered a strong message against those who attempt to divide society along the lines of caste, region and language. ‘Some divide in the name of caste, others in the name of region or language, causing chaos. These divisive elements carry the DNA of Ravana and Duryodhan, acting in the same destructive ways Ravana did in Treta Yug. “Yogi visited Vantangiya village inaugurating 74 development projects worth Rs 185 crore for various gram panchayats across the district. In his Diwali message, he urged everyone to remain vigilant and united against divisive forces, warning of the potential return to disorder if such elements were allowed influence. “If we allow ourselves to be misled by these forces, they will bring back hooliganism, anarchy and riots. They’ll sow chaos, sending Tadka one way, Khar Dushan another,” he said.Commenting on the destructive tendencies of such elements, the CM said, “They pose threats to the safety of daughters and sisters, occupy land belonging to the poor, kidnap businessmen, shoot innocent passersby, and instigate riots just before festivals. This was their pattern before 2017. “He said that such elements now recognise that those who breach the peace will face dire consequences. “Now, if someone takes the law into their own hands, they know it will lead to ‘Ram naam satya’. If anyone dares to dishonor a sister or daughter, they understand that their path will lead to the same fate as Duryodhan and Dushasana. Similarly, those who attempt to disrupt festivals by instigating riots are also aware of the repercussions,” he said. Yogi emphasised that the government now guarantees security, respect, development and prosperity for all citizens without any discrimination. He asserted that true prosperity can only flourish in a safe environment and that a vision for a brighter future can only be realised under such conditions.Reflecting emotionally on the grand and divine Deepotsav celebrated in Ayodhya, he recalled that when Lord Shri Ram returned to Ayodhya after 14 years, following the defeat of the demon king, Diwali was joyously celebrated. He said that each Deepotsav signifies the establishment of Ram Rajya.
The CM said, “Ramrajya is a place where everyone benefits from government schemes without discrimination. There is no division based on caste, language, region, or social status. This has been the continuous endeavour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for the past decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “He said that under PM Modi’s leadership, citizens are reaping the benefits of various schemes, including ration distribution, housing, Ayushman Bharat and LPG access, all without any form of discrimination. “This is what Ram Rajya embodies, a guarantee of development, security, and employment for all,” he said. The CM highlighted that the vision of Ram Rajya, a just and prosperous society, remained incomplete for 500 years, as Ram Lalla had not yet been enshrined in his rightful temple in Ayodhya. He said that, for centuries, the true essence of Lord Ram was absent from the city known by his name.He said, “After a wait of 500 years, Lord Ram Lalla has now been enshrined in his grand and divine temple, making this year extraordinary, filled with wonder and significance that will captivate the world, This is a time of immense transformation for us all,” he said.Yogi said, “Under the leadership of PM Modi, both central and state governments are turning the vision of development and heritage preservation into reality. The completion of Lord Ram’s grand temple stands as the culmination of this shared commitment to preserving heritage while advancing development,” he said. Emphasising the inseparable bond between Sanatan Dharma and India, he said, “If Sanatan Dharma thrives, India thrives, and when India is strong, Sanatan Dharma will be strong. Weakness in either means weakness in both.”He warned that when external adversaries fail in their attempts, they seek to divide the nation internally by spreading misinformation and using divisive language. He referenced Lord Hanuman’s legendary burning of Lanka as an analogy. “Embrace the strength of Bajrang Bali in confronting these challenges,” he said. The CM encouraged people to adopt the spirit of Lord Hanuman in standing up to anarchist and divisive forces. “Only a true devotee of Lord Ram can be a genuine patriot, as a patriot speaks to adversaries in their own language. Anyone who stands against our country is our adversary; they can never be our ally,” he said. He stressed the importance of integrating the Vantangiya community into mainstream society, emphasising that such inclusion would help prevent anti-social and anti-national elements from exploiting them. Reflecting on his personal involvement in the Vantangiya movement, he highlighted the transformative changes in the community over the past seven years. Yogi said, “Seven years ago, this Vantangiya village didn’t have a single concrete home. Today, there isn’t a single hut,” he said.
He detailed that 770 concrete homes have been built, over 800 ration cards issued, and around 4,000 people now benefit from the Ayushman Bharat health scheme. “Besides, 113 villagers receive old-age pensions, 66 receive destitute pensions, 25 receive divyang pensions and 12 young girls have benefited from the Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana. Each home has access to a toilet, and the village now has primary and pre-secondary schools,” he said. He said that under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), 38 women’s groups have been established and 882 residents have received MGNREGA job cards.Declaring Vantangiya villages as revenue villages, the Chief Minister said, “It is a step toward bringing prosperity to the community,” he said.At the Deepotsav and inauguration ceremony, the CM distributed an array of benefits to recipients of key government schemes. He presented smartphones to beneficiaries of the Swami Vivekananda Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana, handed over symbolic keys and certificates to beneficiaries of the Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana, provided Ayushman Cards to those enrolled in the Ayushman Bharat scheme and handed over a symbolic cheque of Rs 450 lakh to beneficiaries of the National Rural Livelihood Mission. During the Vantangiya Deepotsav celebration in Jungle Tikonia Number Three, Yogi extended a Diwali gift of development projects worth Rs 185 crore to 74 gram panchayats across the district. He inaugurated drinking water projects provided by the UP Jal Nigam (Rural) in 42 villages, including Jungle Tikonia Number Three, with an investment of Rs 150.35 crore.Following the stage programme in Jungle Tikonia Number Three, he took time to support and encourage beneficiaries of various government departments, including Forest, Agriculture, Horticulture, Women Welfare, Divyangjan Empowerment, Basic Education, Animal Husbandry, Health, ODOP, and National Rural Livelihood. After visiting the stalls, the CM took a tour of the village. His first stop was the home of Ram Ganesh, the head of the Vantangiya community, where he inaugurated the Deepotsav celebrations for the entire village by lighting a lamp amidst a beautifully crafted rangoli outside the house.