Over the past decades, two persistent electoral campaigns against any government in Uttar Pradesh have been built around issues of corruption and challenges of law and order. Political power had been lost or won in discourse on these issues. Now, in the run-up to the 2022 assembly elections, as opposition parties try to build momentum against the government of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Prime Minister Yogi Adityanath seems to stand out so far compared to his predecessors in the position.
Although rival parties have often brought allegations of corruption under Yogi, the allegations against the man himself have not found many takers. The most recent case of an alleged large-scale scam that has now affected the state is that of pulse oximeters and infrared thermometers that were purchased at inflated prices during the Covid-19 crisis.
While the reality of the ‘scam’ has yet to be established, CM Adityanath has moved forward by ordering an investigation by a special investigation team (SIT) in the case, reflecting the intention that the government has nothing. to hide or protect anyone.
Clearly, so far, the sannyasi-turned-prime minister appears to have been highly successful not only in preserving his image as an honest politician, but he has also tried to cement his reputation as an “anti-corruption crusader.” Its recent severe focus on corruption cases against some senior officials is yet another indicator that the government wants to be seen as pursuing a zero tolerance policy against corruption.
But even before these latest events, in which even an active IPS agent was booked on murder charges in the same district where he until recently served as a police superintendent, the effort to create an image of “honest CM” It started quite early at the start of the BJP government’s term in 2017.
BEGINNING OF YOGI RAJ AND MR. CLEAN PERCEPTION
In March 2017, when political power changed hands in Uttar Pradesh, it wasn’t just about the BJP coming back to rule after nearly 15 years, it was also about a different type of politician occupying the prime minister’s office. Yogi Adityanath was very different from the people who had held the chair in the past, or from those within the BJP, who had ambitions for the top position.
When the saffron-clad mahant became prime minister, the first message to be conveyed was the mythologically established notion that a Hindu saint is distant from worldly wealth and accumulations. In the days to come, Yogi Adityananth as CM carefully moved on, building more on this image, as a man dedicated to government.
His round-the-clock work schedule, late-night meetings, and immediate intervention in the dirtiest of all departments, the mining department, set the pace for him. In Vidhan Sabha’s first session as prime minister in April 2017, Yogi Adityananth had said: “The profits of the UP mining minister appear to have increased more than the state government’s income during the previous regime.”
He was referring to the underbelly of corruption during Akhilesh Yadav’s government, where Gayatri Prajapati, as minister of the mining department, had come to symbolize corruption at the highest level of government.
The BJP government went ahead by amending the Mining Law, providing greater transparency in the allocation of mining contracts and government tenders in all departments. Three years later, the mining sector no longer has the same perception in the state.
OFFICIALS UNDER SCANNER, PRUNING SYSTEM
As the days passed and Yogi Adityanath strengthened his grip on the government, it was time to put the house in order. A high-ranking bureaucrat who has worked closely with her since 2017, recounts how strict the CM is in her meetings with officers, especially those in field service in various districts. The message for them is clear: “Corruption and lack of correction in office will not be tolerated.”
Mrityunjay Kumar, the prime minister’s chief media adviser, says: “The record of the Yogi Adityanath government so far is a testament to the policy of zero tolerance for corruption. More than 600 government officials and employees have faced punitive measures in the past two years on charges of corruption. More than 250 officials and employees from various departments have also been given mandatory retirement for allegations of corruption and negligence at work. “
Another big step taken towards controlling corruption in government offices was to emphasize the “ease of doing business.” The Nivesh Mitra portal was launched and promoted to offer around 123 services of this type online, from which certificates of no objection (NoC) were required before starting an industry or business. So, as the process went online, the government claims, the scope of corruption was drastically reduced.
With UP jumping to second position from 12th above in the recently released central government’s ease of doing business rankings, it could be the necessary test to gauge the success of the Yogi government’s efforts.
THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE
At the moment, the Uttar Pradesh CM and its government are back in the news for a series of announced actions against high-ranking bureaucrats. IPS and IAS officers on duty have been slapped with FIRs. The most obvious example is that of IPS Mani Lal Patidar, who until recently served as SP of the Mahoba district, but has now been suspended and charged with murder for allegedly threatening and having a businessman killed when he refused to bribe the official.
The bureaucracy in the state has been shaken as FIR orders and departmental actions have been announced against other senior police and administrative officials, as well as in relation to corruption charges. The decision to announce a SIT investigation into the alleged scam to purchase pulse oximeters and thermometers is also likely to see the ax fall on various officers and employees in the districts.
The question is, has the UP CM suddenly upped the ante on corruption with its eyes on the future and upcoming polls? The BJP’s top brass disagree. Vijay Bahadur Pathak, Vice President of State for the MLC and BJP, says: “The issue is not one of electoral calculations. This is our party’s established commitment to a zero tolerance policy towards corruption. Yogi ji, as Chief Minister, has championed the cause and the people of Uttar Pradesh will naturally recognize this commitment to eradicate corruption. “
