2 hrs ago
Yogi Links Uttar Pradesh's Pre-2017 Mafia Image to Textiles
Yogi Adityanath spoke at a textile industry meeting in Uttar Pradesh.
He said the state had serious law-and-order problems before 2017.
He claimed mafia groups acted like unofficial governments in some districts.
He also said crime, riots and curfews made life difficult for people and businesses.
According to him, these problems hurt investment and the economy.
He described Uttar Pradesh as a state with a long history of making textiles.
He mentioned silk in Varanasi, carpets in Bhadohi and chikankari in Lucknow.
He said other cities also have important manufacturing industries.
The meeting was meant to discuss the future and potential of the textile sector.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Uttar Pradesh faced poor law and order and mafia dominance before 2017.
He claimed criminal activities including murder, extortion, illegal occupation, kidnapping and goon tax were widespread.
Adityanath alleged that mafia groups operated parallel systems of governance across several districts.
He said insecurity, riots, curfews and market closures harmed residents, businesses, investors and economic activity.
Speaking at the UP Textile Conclave-2026, he highlighted textile and manufacturing centres across Uttar Pradesh and their export potential.
- Who
- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, along with entrepreneurs, investors, exporters, weavers and textile-industry representatives.
- What
- Adityanath addressed the UP Textile Conclave-2026 and contrasted Uttar Pradesh's alleged pre-2017 law-and-order conditions with the state's textile and manufacturing potential.
- Where
- Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
- When
- Tuesday; the conclave was described as a two-day event in 2026.
- Why
- He spoke to promote investment and development in the state's textile sector while describing conditions he said had previously harmed safety, business and economic activity.
Key facts
- Speaker
- Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh
- Event
- UP Textile Conclave-2026
- Location
- Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
- Pre-2017 description
- Adityanath said law and order was in disarray and alleged that mafia groups operated parallel systems of governance.
- Alleged crimes
- Murder, extortion, illegal occupation, goon tax and kidnapping
- Textile centres
- Varanasi silk sarees, Bhadohi carpets and Lucknow chikankari
- Other industries cited
- Kanpur textiles and leather, Agra footwear, Sitapur textiles and Meerut sports goods
Quotes
Yogi Adityanath
Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh
“In every district, a parallel government run by the mafia operated. In other words, 'One District, One Mafia' had become the identity of Uttar Pradesh. Across the state, the industries of murder, extortion, illegal occupation, goon tax, and kidnapping were flourishing.”
thehansindia.com
“At that time, neither daughters were safe, nor traders were safe. Investors would come from outside with dreams of doing business and return with a slip of paper from the mafia demanding payment.”
thehansindia.com









