Lucknow: A press conference was held at the Uttar Pradesh Congress office, where Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee President and former minister Ajay Rai, along with Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra ‘Mona,’ addressed journalists. The conference was attended by Chairman of the UP Congress Committee’s Media Department and former minister Dr. C.P. Rai, Chief Organizer of the UP Congress Seva Dal Dr. Pramod Kumar Pandey, Vice Chairman Manish Srivastava Hindvi, state spokespersons Dr. Uma Shankar Pandey, Sachin Rawat, and Dr. Sudha Mishra.
Ajay Rai’s Strong Criticism of Yogi Government
While addressing the press conference, Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai criticized the Yogi government for completing eight years of what he termed as “misgovernance.” He stated that the state is in dire straits, citizens are suffering, and the government is patting its own back despite the prevailing crisis. He accused the Yogi government of manipulating statistics to hide the truth, but he asserted that the reality of lawlessness and misrule is exposing the administration’s false claims.
Rai posed eight critical questions to the Yogi government, stating that the people of Uttar Pradesh deserve answers:
1. Why is the future of Uttar Pradesh’s youth bleak?
Ajay Rai pointed out that several government examination papers have been leaked over the past eight years, and many results have not been declared yet. The government has failed to conduct new teacher recruitments, while the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) is functioning arbitrarily. Due to a lack of private sector investments, job opportunities are scarce. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), Uttar Pradesh has the highest unemployment rate among youth.
2. Why are farmers and laborers suffering under this government?
Rai claimed that since December 7, 2024, over Rs 100 crore in wages under the MGNREGA scheme remain unpaid. While festivals like Holi have passed and Eid is approaching, workers are unable to celebrate due to unpaid wages. Farmers’ incomes have not doubled, but their expenses have increased. The black marketing of fertilizers like DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate) in October 2024 left farmers helpless. Additionally, despite promises of free electricity, bureaucratic hurdles prevent most farmers from benefiting. The sugarcane support price has been raised only three times in the last eight years, by just Rs 55, while inflation has skyrocketed.
3. How has Uttar Pradesh become a corruption-ridden state despite claims of being corruption-free?
Rai highlighted the arrest of IAS officer Abhishek Prakash, a key figure in Yogi’s “Invest UP” project, for accepting bribes. He alleged that corruption is rampant across government departments, from the Kumbh Mela to COVID-19 relief funds and the Ram Path project. Viral images on social media of sinking roads further expose the administration’s failures. Even funds for the 2024 Kumbh Mela were misused, and corruption was widespread during the COVID-19 pandemic, from thermometers to oxygen cylinders.
4. Why is there a state-sponsored campaign to disrupt social harmony?
Rai accused the administration of suspicious conduct during the Bahraich riots and condemned the demolition of mosques in Sambhal and Kushinagar without due legal process. He stated that the government is deliberately instigating communal discord for electoral gains.
5. How has Uttar Pradesh turned into a crime hub under Yogi’s rule?
Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra ‘Mona’ questioned Yogi Adityanath’s claims of a crime-free state. NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) data shows that 15% of crimes against women in India occur in Uttar Pradesh. Incidents of rape, atrocities against Dalits, and honor crimes are on the rise. Dalits are being denied the right to ride horses at weddings, a practice that was previously eradicated but has resurfaced under this administration.
6. Why is the government anti-constitution and anti-reservation?
Mishra cited the 69,000 teacher recruitment case, where the Allahabad High Court ruled that reservation policies were violated. She claimed that the Yogi government is systematically dismantling constitutional provisions and replacing permanent government jobs with contractual employment to bypass reservation laws. Furthermore, the chief minister and his ministers frequently make statements against constitutional principles.
7. Why are health services in Uttar Pradesh in such a poor state?
Mishra pointed to a National Health Authority (NHA) report that found over Rs 139 crore in fraudulent claims under the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Uttar Pradesh. The state’s healthcare sector receives only 6% of the total budget allocation, ranking 18th among 19 states in the NITI Aayog survey. Ambulance services under Dial 112 are riddled with corruption. Videos frequently surface on social media showing patients being transported on shoulders or two patients sharing a single bed due to lack of facilities.
8. Why is the state’s economy in shambles?
Mishra highlighted the contradiction between Yogi Adityanath’s claim of an 8 lakh crore budget and the fact that Uttar Pradesh’s total debt has reached nearly 9 lakh crore. The state ranks just above Bihar in per capita income, with 22.5% of the population living below the poverty line. Critical sectors like PWD and agriculture have spent only 50% of their allocated budgets, and around 30-35% of the budget is surrendered at the end of each financial year due to underutilization.
Congress Demands CM Yogi’s Resignation
Concluding the press conference, Ajay Rai stated that Uttar Pradesh is facing an unprecedented crisis of governance, lawlessness, and economic distress. He demanded that Yogi Adityanath step down as Chief Minister immediately, citing his government’s failure in addressing the state’s pressing issues.
The press conference ended with Congress leaders emphasizing their commitment to holding the government accountable and standing with the people of Uttar Pradesh in their struggles.
