"Will be Budget of prosperity": UP Minister OP Rajbhar asserts state's rapid growth

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], February 18 (ANI): As the Uttar Pradesh Budget session for 2025-26 commenced, Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar on Tuesday asserted that the state would progress more rapidly on the path of development.
Speaking to ANI, the Uttar Pradesh Minister stated that this year's budget would be a budget of "prosperity."
"This will be the biggest budget to date. The central government presented its budget, which was a budget of prosperity for every section, including farmers, youth, and the unemployed. Similarly, the state budget will also be a budget of prosperity... The state will progress more rapidly on the path of development," Rajbhar said.
Reacting to the opposition's protests inside the assembly, he remarked that while the opposition's role is to oppose, the government remains focused on development. "So let them (opposition) oppose, we are doing our job," he added.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urged the opposition to cooperate and ensure that the session runs smoothly until March 5.
"It is not only the responsibility of the government but also of the opposition to conduct the session peacefully. The double-engine BJP government has set unprecedented standards for Uttar Pradesh's development in the last eight years. This is reflected in the discussions inside the House. Naturally, the frustrated and disappointed opposition tries to avoid these discussions and disrupt proceedings. If the opposition contributes to a meaningful debate, this can be a highly productive session," CM Yogi Adityanath said.
He also noted that the state has rarely witnessed sessions of such long duration.
"The session will begin with the Governor's address. The budget for the entire year will be passed during this session, and various other issues concerning public welfare and development will also be discussed. From tomorrow, discussions will begin on the Governor's speech. On February 20, the Uttar Pradesh Budget for 2025-26 will be presented in the Vidhan Sabha. The session will continue until March 5," he added.
On the opening day of the session, Samajwadi Party leaders staged a protest outside the state legislative assembly over the deaths that occurred during the Mahakumbh stampede.
Notably, a Samajwadi Party leader, while condemning the government, symbolically carried the "ashes" of the government's ethics as a mark of protest. (ANI)