Will build Shivaji museum instead of Mughal museum in Agra by 2026 end: Yogi Adityanath

Agra: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday criticised the previous Samajwadi Party government for its plan to build a museum dedicated to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Agra, stressing that his government will construct a Chhatrapati Shivaji museum by the end of the year instead.

He asserted that public funds would not be used to build a museum named after an invader.

Speaking at a function here after inaugurating and laying the foundation for 53 development projects worth over Rs 342 crore, Adityanath said, "In Agra, the city where Chhatrapati Shivaji displayed his valour, the Samajwadi Party government was building a Mughal museum. Public funds would not be used for a museum named after an invader; instead, a museum would be constructed in the name of India's national heroes."


He said the construction of a grand museum named after Chhatrapati Shivaji will be completed by the end of this year.

"We have also approved the acquisition of the 'kothi' (residence) in Agra where Chhatrapati Shivaji had stayed," Adityanath said.

Attacking the Samajwadi Party, the chief minister said they were preoccupied with their own development.

"Public funds became a medium for the 'Saifai Syndicate' to engage in loot. Whether it was stealing job opportunities meant for the youth, misappropriating welfare schemes intended for the poor, or the sinful act of snatching away the prosperity of our farmers, the Samajwadi Party and before them, the Congress, committed these sins," he said.

Adityanath said the consequences of these sins were the state's youth facing an identity crisis, farmers committing suicide, and the daughters and traders living in insecurity.

Taking an apparent jibe at former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, Adityanath said, "Only God save a state where its chief minister would wake up at 12 noon, get ready by 2 pm, head to the gym at 5 pm, and enjoy spending the time after 7 pm with his circle of friends."

He said this was the reason why a mafia figure had emerged in every district, and every police station and tehsil had effectively been handed over to goons.

"Anarchy, curfews, and the rule of criminals and the mafia once plagued the state. The picture of Uttar Pradesh you see today represents a system free from all that. Today, there are no curfews or riots. Everything is truly well here," he said.

On Agra's development, he said, "We have already taken steps to establish an international airport in Agra. It is now developing into a new centre not only for industrial activity in the Braj region, but also for tourism. Connectivity has improved significantly."

He said the Supreme Court has approved the work that was previously halted due to the Taj Trapezium Zone.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court permitted the Taj Trapezium Zone Authority to process around 400 pending applications for setting up non-polluting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in the ecologically sensitive area around the Taj Mahal.

The top court, however, directed that experts from the Central Empowered Committee and the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute must scrutinise every proposal.

"If any objection arises, the application concerned shall not be accepted without the leave of this court," it said.

Further, Adityanath said today Agra is becoming not only a smart city but also a new model of a safe city.

"Peru's International Potato Centre had to establish a branch somewhere in India. We offered land in Agra, and now it has successfully started operations here. This will benefit our farmers: their produce will receive value addition, and with much higher prices, their incomes will increase. This will bring prosperity to their lives," he said.

Highlighting other development works in Agra, the chief minister said, "Work on multi-level parking, an Integrated Command and Control Centre, and modernising of the city's traffic system will now move ahead rapidly. Alongside Agra's development, the interests of farmers are also being fully protected."

He asserted that after public representatives flagged farmers' concerns, the government found solutions.

On Agra's leather industry, he said the government is working to provide global recognition to Petha under the "One District, One Product" and "One District, One Cuisine" schemes.

Development works are also being carried forward at Bateshwar Dham, Kailash Temple, Guru Ka Tal, Geet Govind Vatika, the birthplace of Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Bateshwar, Fatehpur Sikri and Sauripur Jain Teerth.

Adityanath also announced that a working women's hostel with capacity to house 500 residents would be constructed in Agra in memory of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar. The state government has approved the project and released the required budget.

"There will be no compromise on the safety of our daughters and traders. Anyone who attempts to breach their security has only two destinations: jail or hell," he said.