Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on October 17, 2026, that his government established the rule of law by ending mafia rule. He told students that the state is now among India’s top three economies. He said, "The vision of Viksit Bharat cannot be realised merely by building roads."
The vision of Viksit Bharat cannot be realised merely by building roads, factories and expressways. It requires strengthening a system based on fairness, integrity and duties, says Yogi Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday (October 17, 2026) said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government had established the "rule of law" in the State by eradicating the "rule of mafia".
"Uttar Pradesh was once under the influence of mafia rule, but the rule of law has now been established in the State. This is the strongest foundation for development, investment and public trust," Mr. Adityanath said while addressing the fifth convocation ceremony of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University in Lucknow.
He said Uttar Pradesh, once counted among the BIMARU states amid concerns over investment and law and order had transformed its position through a clear roadmap and resolve. The State is now among the country's top three economies and is progressing as a revenue-surplus State," he added.
Mr. Adityanath urged the law graduates not to confine their understanding of the profession to sections of law and court cases, but to prioritise public trust, safeguarding rights and access to justice.
"The vision of Viksit Bharat cannot be realised merely by building roads, factories and expressways. It requires strengthening a system based on fairness, integrity and duties. Every person standing at the last rung of society must receive justice easily and approachability, without bias. The biggest advantage of law is not its module, but the trust of the common people. This trust is strengthened through objectivity, respect for victims and the behavior of legal practitioner. Legal professionals must remain committed to truth, Dharma, impartiality and the Constitution," he said.
Before 2017, he said, the State was perceived as a place where investment was unsafe, connectivity was weak, and development opportunities were limited.
"Changing this perception required determination and an action plan that could deliver results. Establishing the rule of law was an important part of this transformation. We freed the State from mafia rule and established the rule of law. Earlier, the situation was such that even convoys of people holding administrative and constitutional positions would stop in front of a mafia figure in Prayagraj. Today, however, under the rule of law, the State is setting new benchmarks in development," he added.
Referring to legal and administrative reforms at the national level, Mr. Adityanath said the reform process had gained momentum after May 2014, with more than 1,500 obsolete laws repealed.
"India's Independence, the implementation of the Constitution, the Emergency, landmark judicial decisions and reforms undertaken in the country could be regarded as important milestones in the nation's journey. The country became independent on August 15, 1947, and the Constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950. The imposition of the Emergency on June 25, 1975, highlighted the distinction between the 'rule of law' and the 'rule of the ruler'.
Through the Jan Vishwas Act, 183 provisions across 42 laws were amended to decriminalize minor lapses, he said, adding that global confidence about India has strengthened amid the country's economic rise.
"In 2013, India was counted among the world's 5 fragile economies, whereas today it is among the world's top five economies. Similarly, Uttar Pradesh has set a target of becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy. A vision document has been released and an action plan implemented for this purpose," he said.