Lucknow, India | December 25, 2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow and used the occasion to launch a sharp attack on dynasty-based politics, asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had freed the country from what he described as years of political “captivity.”
Addressing the gathering, Modi said a single family had once held the nation hostage, adding that the BJP-led government had put an end to that era. He claimed that dynasty politics thrives on insecurity and seeks to undermine others, a mindset that, according to him, led to political discrimination in India.
Criticism of Opposition Parties
The prime minister said expectations of constructive governance could not be placed on parties like the Congress or the Samajwadi Party (SP). He alleged that during their rule, BJP leaders faced repeated humiliation.
Highlighting the benefits of what he called the BJP’s “double-engine government,” Modi said Uttar Pradesh has gained significantly under the current dispensation and is steadily carving out a distinct identity in 21st-century India.
Uttar Pradesh’s Changing Image
Calling it his privilege to represent Uttar Pradesh as a Member of Parliament, Modi said the state’s hardworking citizens are shaping a new future. He noted that UP is now being discussed nationally and globally for development and tourism rather than stagnation.
He cited major religious and cultural landmarks such as the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor as symbols of Uttar Pradesh’s renewed global identity.
Tribute to National Icons
Modi emphasized that the BJP respects and honors contributions from all sections of society. He pointed to the installation of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s statue at Kartavya Path in Delhi and memorials in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as examples.
He also referred to efforts to preserve Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s legacy, alleging that previous regimes attempted to erase it, while asserting that the BJP ensured its protection and recognition.
Infrastructure, Defense, and Welfare Push
Speaking about Lucknow’s growing global prominence, Modi highlighted the role of the BrahMos missile, which is manufactured in the city, in the success of Operation Sindoor.
He also outlined the government’s welfare initiatives, noting that over 250 million people are covered under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, while 550 million citizens are enrolled in accident insurance schemes. According to Modi, these programs have provided financial assistance worth nearly ₹25,000 crore to vulnerable families.
Roads, Expressways, and Metro Expansion
The prime minister said that nearly 800,000 kilometers of rural roads have been built since 2000, with about half constructed in the past decade alone. He added that expressway construction is underway across the country, with Uttar Pradesh emerging as a leader in this sector.
Recalling former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s role in launching the Delhi Metro, Modi said metro expansion across multiple cities in Uttar Pradesh is now transforming urban mobility.
India’s Rise as a Manufacturing Power
Modi credited Vajpayee for accelerating telecom reforms and said India has now become one of the world’s largest internet and mobile user markets. He added that over the past 11 years, India has emerged as the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturing nation, calling it a milestone in the country’s industrial growth.
