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‘One District, One Mafia’ had become UP’s identity before 2017, says CM Yogi

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Lucknow, Sep 8: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said the situation in the state before 2017 was marked by poor law and order, widespread criminal activities, and the dominance of mafia elements, with ‘One District, One Mafia’ becoming its identity.

Addressing the two-day ‘UP Textile Conclave-2026’, the Chief Minister welcomed entrepreneurs, investors, exporters, traditional weavers, handloom operators, industry representatives, and young people associated with the textile sector.

“First of all, I extend a heartfelt welcome and greetings to all the distinguished entrepreneurs, investors and exporters from the textile sector across the country, as well as traditional weavers, handloom operators, all the dignitaries and young friends who see their future in this sector,” he said.

Highlighting Uttar Pradesh’s long-standing textile traditions, the Chief Minister said the state’s textile heritage had historical links with India’s cultural and economic development.

He said that when gifts of clothing were presented by the King of Kashi at Yudhishthira’s Rajasuya Yagya, ancient texts such as the Mahabharata made references to silk and pure cotton garments. Also referring to the period of Lord Ram’s exile, he said religious scriptures mention Mata Janaki receiving divine garments at a sage’s ashram.

“The textiles produced in India, particularly those made in Uttar Pradesh, were not only in demand in India but also in markets around the world,” he said.

“If you look at Roman culture or Greek culture, there was a huge demand there as well for these textiles made in India and Uttar Pradesh. This means that the tradition of sending these products from here to other places existed even then,” the Chief Minister said.

He also highlighted several major textile and manufacturing centres across the state, including Varanasi’s silk sarees, Bhadohi’s carpets, Lucknow’s chikankari, and Kanpur’s textile, leather, and industrial manufacturing ecosystem.

CM Adityanath also mentioned Agra’s footwear and allied manufacturing sector, Sitapur’s textile manufacturing capabilities, and Meerut’s sports goods industry and the potential for technical textiles.

“These are not merely textile clusters of Uttar Pradesh. They represent different facets of Uttar Pradesh’s textile heritage and industrial capabilities. These different facets visible across different regions draw our attention to the potential of the textile sector in Uttar Pradesh,” he said.

Recalling the situation in Uttar Pradesh before 2017, Adityanath claimed the state’s law and order situation was in disarray and alleged that mafia groups had established parallel systems of governance in several districts.

“Friends, what the situation in Uttar Pradesh was like before 2017 is not hidden from anyone. Law and order in the state was in disarray,” he said.

“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. Professional mafias and goons operated their own system parallel to the government,” he claimed.

He further alleged that the prevailing environment had affected the safety of women, traders and potential investors.

“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,” Adityanath claimed.

The Chief Minister also alleged that festivals and celebrations could not be conducted peacefully because of frequent disturbances and riots.

“No festival or celebration could be held peacefully. In other words, disturbances would begin before the festivities. Across the state, there would be a major riot every third day, with the entire state engulfed in the flames of riots. Major riots took place in Bareilly, Kosi Kalan in Mathura, Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur on a large scale,” he said.

He said prolonged curfews and the closure of educational institutions and markets had a direct impact on economic activity.

“Curfews would remain in place for months. Schools and colleges would be closed. If there was a curfew, the markets would remain closed, and if the markets remained closed, business would inevitably come to a standstill. People could not even leave their homes. And when such a situation exists, the economy cannot move forward. A perception had taken hold,” the Chief Minister said.

He said Uttar Pradesh had also acquired a negative perception because of poor infrastructure and inadequate lighting in several areas.

“I always mention this point: before 2017, Uttar Pradesh had come to be perceived as a place where, once the roads became bad and darkness began as soon as evening arrived, you could assume that you had entered the borders of Uttar Pradesh. This was the situation in Uttar Pradesh before 2017,” he said.

International News

EAM Jaishankar and US counterpart Rubio discuss advancing ties, regional developments

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External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar held a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Mumbai on Tuesday, with discussions focusing on further advancing bilateral ties.

During the meeting, the two ministers exchanged views on regional developments. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and other officials were also present at the meeting.

“Pleased to meet US Marco Rubio in Mumbai today. We shared views on further advancement of our ties, focusing on trade, energy, technology, defence and people-to-people ties. Also exchanged views on regional developments,” EAM Jaishankar stated on X after the meting.

Rubio said that he and EAM Jaishankar discussed energy security and defence cooperation.

“In Mumbai, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and I discussed energy security and defense cooperation while reaffirming the importance of advancing the U.S.-India strategic partnership,” the US Secretary of State posted on X.

Earlier, EAM Jaishankar, Marco Rubio and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a meeting in Mumbai, with discussions held on regional energy security and advancing shared economic priorities.

“It was great to meet with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss regional energy security and advance our shared economic priorities,” Rubio stated on X after the meeting.

Following the meeting, Ambassador Gor also took to X and wrote: “The US, India, and UAE have real opportunities to advance cooperation on energy, trade, technology, and regional connectivity. Marco Rubio, S Jaishankar, and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Mumbai for a discussion on turning our close ties into concrete results!”

Earlier in the day, Marco Rubio arrived in Mumbai for an official visit to India. For his visit to Mumbai, Rubio is accompanied by his wife, Jeanette Rubio and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) extended a warm welcome to Rubio as he arrived in Mumbai for his second visit to India, noting that it provides an opportunity to further advance cooperation across various pillars of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.

“Welcome to Mumbai, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on your second visit to India! He was received by Shri Ashish Shelar, Minister of Culture, Electronics, IT and AI, Government of Maharashtra at the airport. The visit provides an opportunity to further advance cooperation across the various pillars of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership,” the MEA posted on X.

After concluding his engagements in Mumbai, Rubio will travel to Gujarat’s Jamnagar for talks that will include “enhanced energy cooperation”, the US State Department said.

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Crime

Model Shraddha Dubey, wanted in businessman Shiva Sharma death case, arrested in Nagpur

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Model Shraddha Dubey, a key accused in the death of Lucknow-based businessman Shiva Sharma, has been arrested in Nagpur along with her sister Rashmi Dubey and driver Danish, Uttar Pradesh Police said on Tuesday.

The three accused, who had been absconding since the registration of the case, were apprehended by the Lucknow Police and the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) with the assistance of Nagpur Police on Tuesday.

A reward of Rs 50,000 each had been announced for information leading to their arrest.

Following her arrest, Shraddha Dubey has been brought to Bell Road Police Station on Wardha Road in Nagpur, where she is currently being questioned.

Officials of the Uttar Pradesh STF and Nagpur Police are present at the police station and are jointly questioning her.

According to the police, a case under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered at the Hazratganj Police Station on October 9 on the basis of a written complaint filed by Ranjana Sharma.

The accused are being taken through the necessary legal formalities before being brought to Lucknow for further investigation into Sharma’s death.

Meanwhile, fresh details have emerged about Dubey’s movements during her absconding period.

According to media reports, she stayed for nearly 24 hours at a hotel in Taj Nagari Phase-I in Agra.

The reports claimed that CCTV footage showed a vehicle allegedly linked to Dubey arriving at the hotel at 6:33 a.m. on October 17. Around 20 minutes later, at 6.53 a.m., a woman identified as Dubey reportedly entered the premises. The vehicle’s registration number was reported to be UP32RT8043.

During her absconding period, Dubey had released a video appealing against linking her name with influential individuals.

An earlier viral audio recording, purportedly featuring her threatening Sharma, had also surfaced, in which she was allegedly heard referring to complaining about him to a ‘sir’.

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National News

CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka to approach Delhi HC seeking release

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Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka are set to move the Delhi High Court seeking their release, challenging the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court’s order extending their judicial custody in connection with the Jantar Mantar trespassing case.

The move comes a day after the SEM court extended the judicial custody of the two till October 21, observing that their conduct “shows no respect for law” and reflects their “habitualness in calling protest at de-notified areas”.

The two CJP leaders were sent to judicial custody till October 21 by SEM Ritu Raj at Mandir Marg police station after their earlier five-day judicial custody ended on Monday.

In its order, the SEM court said the investigating officer had placed substantial material on record, raising concerns over the likelihood of a breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity.

It also recorded that the two leaders had allegedly breached the bonds furnished by them before the SEM, South-West District, on October 11 and subsequently committed a breach of peace in the present case.

The court further observed that their assurance that they would not repeat the alleged offence did not inspire confidence in view of their past conduct and the material placed on record by the investigating officer.

Das and Ranka, along with party member Ajinkya Shinde, were among 14 people detained on October 13 after they entered Jantar Mantar through private premises and obstructed police personnel from discharging their official duties.

The CJP members were protesting against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and had raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

Delhi Police had justified their continued custody, citing repeated violations of law and apprehensions that their release could lead to further violations and instigation of others.

The SEM court had also found the sureties furnished on behalf of the two leaders unfit following an inquiry, citing discrepancies in identity documents and their inability to provide basic details about the persons for whom they stood surety. It directed them to furnish fresh sureties.

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