Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said Basti, which was a city of great historical and mythological significance, fell victim to state neglect during previous dispensations.

"Previous governments divided people and created fissures in society in the name of caste and religion. But today, under the double-engine government, development is taking place at a fast pace. Basti today has its own medical college named after Maharishi Vashishth, which was unimaginable six years ago," Adityanath said.

He said women no longer have to suffer from lung disease because of the Ujjwala Scheme.

"We have also decided to provide free gas cylinders on Diwali and Holi. The double-engine government has also given health insurance of Rs 5 lakh to the poor under Ayushman Bharat Yojana," he said.

The chief minister also mentioned the 2002 Munderwa firing incident, in which three farmers were killed during an agitation for sugarcane prices. The incident had happened under the Mayawati government.

"Our government has set up a new sugar mill here. This sugar mill is becoming the identity of this place," he said. Blaming previous regimes, he asked, "How can a government without a vision carry out development."

The chief addressed public meetings in Basti, Siddharthnagar, Sultanpur for the second round of urban local body polls on May 11, according to a statement. Voting for the first round was held on Thursday. And the counting of votes will take place on May 13.

In Siddharthnagar, he said the district was now progressing at the pace of a "bullet train".

"Siddharthnagar was one of the 112 most backward districts in the nation chosen by the NITI Aayog. It is now progressing at the pace of a bullet train." "Siddharthnagar has fully embodied Buddha's teachings to 'Be your own light,' or 'Appa Deepo Bhava',” he said.

He asserted that his government has prioritised empowerment over appeasement and provided housing facilities, toilets, gas connections and ration to the poor people.

In Sultanpur, he said his government is working to make urban life "smart" and "safe."

Calling on people to increase the speed of development "three times" by supporting the BJP in the civic polls, he said, "This will solve the basic problems of people. You will not have to wander for birth, death, residence and caste certificates. All your work will be done online."

The chief minister claimed previous governments created only problems and under their governance urban life used to be marked by widespread waterlogging, heaps of garbage, fear of miscreants, extortion, and youth carrying pistols. "Under our government, urban life means 'smart' and 'safe' city", he added.

"We are fortunate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Purvanchal Expressway in this district, which is turning into a lifeline for development of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Today, Sultanpur is associated with every development process. Medical college is coming up in Sultanpur. The process of reviving the sugar mill has started,” he said.

Earlier in Basti, he said India's global prestige has gone up under the Modi government, which has been constructing highway networks, railways, medical colleges, universities, IITs, and AIIMS at a rapid pace.

Adityanath said the state government will be distributing 2 crore tablets to the youth of the state, allocating Rs 3,600 crore in the initial phase of the scheme.

-With PTI Input