Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath says rule of law has replaced mafia rule
Speaking at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University’s convocation, Yogi Adityanath said the state has eradicated mafia influence and now enjoys a rule‑of‑law environment that fuels investment and public trust.
What the chief minister said
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath addressed the graduating law students on October 17, 2026 and declared that the BJP‑led government had finally “established the rule of law” after years of “mafia rule”. He said the new legal environment is “the strongest foundation for development, investment and public trust”.
Why it matters
According to Yogi, the state’s image has turned around dramatically. Once labelled a BIMARU state, Uttar Pradesh now ranks among India’s top three economies and is running a revenue‑surplus. The chief minister argued that law‑and‑order reforms are the backbone of that turnaround, enabling infrastructure projects, factories and expressways to attract capital.
Key reforms and numbers
- Legal clean‑up: More than 1,500 obsolete statutes have been repealed since 2014, he said, clearing the way for faster business decisions.
- Cyber policing: Every one of the state’s 75 districts now hosts a dedicated cyber police station, and 1,583 regular police stations have cyber help desks to tackle digital crime.
- Economic ambition: Uttar Pradesh has set a target to become a one‑trillion‑dollar economy by the 2029‑30 fiscal year.
- AI guidance: Yogi warned that artificial intelligence should be an “assistant, not a charioteer”, urging lawyers to keep human judgment at the centre of justice.
Reactions at the convocation
Supreme Court Justice Vikram Nath, Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay were among the dignitaries on stage. The graduates were urged to look beyond courtroom sections, to earn public trust and to bring “truth, Dharma, impartiality and the Constitution” into everyday practice.
The broader picture
The chief minister framed the shift as part of the “Viksit Bharat” vision – a India that progresses not merely through roads and factories but through a justice system that treats every citizen fairly. By positioning Uttar Pradesh as a law‑abiding, investment‑friendly state, the government hopes to cement its narrative of stability and growth ahead of the next assembly elections.
What comes next
Yogi said the state will continue to expand its AI‑Pragya programme, which aims to train ten lakh young people in AI, data analytics and cybersecurity. He also asked the new lawyers to resolve local disputes, stay connected to their communities and guard against deep‑fake threats.
Bottom line
From the chief minister’s perspective, Uttar Pradesh has moved from a period where mafia convoys could halt official processions to a climate where legal certainty drives economic ambition. Whether the data on economic rankings and law‑repeal figures holds up will be tested in the months ahead, but the narrative of a law‑and‑order renaissance is now front and centre in the state’s political discourse.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh now among India’s top three economies | Yes | CM Yogi Adityanath statement |
| Target to become a one‑trillion‑dollar economy by FY 2029‑30 | 2029‑30 | CM Yogi Adityanath statement |
| Cyber police stations in all 75 districts | 75 | CM Yogi Adityanath statement |
| Cyber help desks in police stations | 1,583 | CM Yogi Adityanath statement |
| Obsolete laws repealed since 2014 | >1,500 | CM Yogi Adityanath statement |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Yogi Adityanath | Uttar Pradesh chief minister who made the statements |
| Uttar Pradesh | State whose governance is being described |
