Lucknow, August 15
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath hoisted the national flag at his official residence in Lucknow. He extended greetings to the people of Uttar Pradesh and paid tribute to national heroes and martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country.
The Chief Minister emphasized that freedom is not just political independence but also complete liberation from chaos, backwardness, poverty, illiteracy, and inequality, which had weakened the nation. He urged that to preserve freedom for the long term, all 1.4 billion Indians must contribute equally in their respective fields.
Reflecting on history, he said India’s independence in 1947 was the result of long struggles, sacrifices, and movements across regions—from Mangal Pandey in Barrackpore, Rani Lakshmibai in Jhansi, and Dhansingh Kotwal in Meerut during the 1857 uprising, to countless other revolutionaries who fought against foreign rule.
CM Yogi noted that in the past eight decades, many challenges of illiteracy, inequality, and poverty have been addressed. As a result, 250 million people have been lifted out of multidimensional poverty, education has expanded, and governance benefits are reaching all sections of society without discrimination.
He highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of focusing on four key groups—poor, youth, women, and farmers—which has shaped policies over the last 12 years. Initiatives like Direct Benefit Transfer, Mission Rozgar, modern technology platforms, new medical colleges, AIIMS institutions, metro and rapid rail projects, and world-class public transport (Amrit Bharat, Vande Bharat, Namo Bharat) have transformed infrastructure and services.
The Chief Minister also paid homage to freedom fighters and national leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, as well as soldiers who sacrificed their lives for India’s borders and internal security.
He remembered Inspector Sunil Kumar of Uttar Pradesh Police, who was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra for his sacrifice in upholding law and order and enforcing the state’s zero-tolerance policy against crime. He congratulated other UP officers and personnel who received gallantry awards from the President.
CM Yogi concluded by expressing confidence that with collective efforts in every field, India will continue its journey toward self-reliance and development, ensuring that freedom remains eternal and the nation’s progress becomes even more glorious.