LUCKNOW, Sept 8: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said the state has undergone a significant transformation since 2017, moving from an environment marked by crime, communal unrest and policy uncertainty to one focused on the rule of law, investor confidence and industrial development.
Addressing the inaugural session of the two-day UP Textile Conclave-2026, Adityanath said his government was working to establish an integrated ecosystem covering every stage of the textile value chain, from production and processing to employment and exports.
The Chief Minister criticised the previous government over the law and order situation before 2017, alleging that organised criminal networks operated with political protection across the state.
“Nobody is unaware of what the situation in Uttar Pradesh was before 2017. The law and order situation had collapsed. In every district, a parallel government run by mafias operated – it was almost like ‘one district, one mafia’,” he said, in an apparent reference to the previous Samajwadi Party government.
Adityanath alleged that extortion, illegal land occupation, kidnapping and other criminal activities had become widespread, creating an atmosphere of fear among residents, traders and potential investors.
He said such conditions also affected Uttar Pradesh’s image outside the state and hindered economic activity.
Focus on Law and Order
Recalling instances of communal violence in Bareilly, Mathura’s Kosi Kalan, Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur, the Chief Minister said prolonged curfews had affected schools, colleges, markets and businesses.
“If there is curfew, markets will remain closed; if markets remain closed, business will stop. When people cannot leave their homes, the economy cannot move forward,” he said.
Adityanath contrasted the situation with what he described as the current “rule of law” and a “zero-tolerance policy” towards crime, criminals and corruption.
“Today, Uttar Pradesh is curfew-free, riot-free and mafia-free,” he said, adding that those threatening citizens, traders or investors would face strict action.
Investment Proposals Rise
Adityanath said the government had taken steps to rebuild confidence among investors and citizens by introducing sector-specific policies and improving the ease of doing business.
He claimed that Uttar Pradesh has remained revenue-surplus for the past six years and said commitments made to investors were being closely monitored by the state government.
According to the Chief Minister, investment proposals worth Rs 50 lakh crore have been received in Uttar Pradesh over the past nine years. Of these, projects involving Rs 15 lakh crore have reached the implementation stage, while proposals worth another Rs 7.5 lakh crore are ready to be executed.
He also claimed that more than 65 lakh young people had received employment opportunities during this period.
The number of large factories in the state, he said, had increased from around 14,000 to 35,000 in nine years.
MSMEs and Textile Sector
The Chief Minister highlighted the expansion of Uttar Pradesh’s micro, small and medium enterprise ecosystem, saying the state now has around 96 lakh MSME units.
He cited the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative as an important branding and market-support mechanism for local businesses and traditional products.
Adityanath also pointed to digital platforms such as Nivesh Mitra, Nivesh Sarathi and Udyami Mitra, which he said were facilitating clearances and helping entrepreneurs navigate the investment process.
At the textile conclave, he urged industry representatives to suggest measures for strengthening the sector and assured them that practical recommendations would be considered while framing the state’s textile policy.
New Textile Initiatives Launched
During the event, Adityanath launched the UP Tex Mitra portal, the Handloom Weaver Samriddhi Yojana and the Uttar Pradesh Textile Sector Training and Skill Development Scheme.
Letters of comfort and incentives under the Uttar Pradesh Textile Policy were also distributed to investors and industry representatives.
The Chief Minister said the government’s broader objective was to create a comprehensive textile ecosystem capable of generating employment, supporting entrepreneurs and strengthening Uttar Pradesh’s position as a major industrial and manufacturing hub.