In its fight against the coronavirus, Uttar Pradesh has proved that ‘UP badal raha hai’ (the state is changing). “The situation (relating to the spread of the pandemic) here is far far better than Delhi, Maharashtra or Rajasthan,” says Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. “We have the largest population in the country but the number of Covid-19 cases are much less than several other states. That is the efficiency of our government...our effective implementation of Centre’s directives on the ground,” Maurya tells IANS.

The pandemic experts around the globe were initially apprehensive of the state’s response in containing the deadly virus in India’s most populated state known for the spread of other dreaded viral diseases in the past. However, much to the surprise of these experts, the Yogi Adityanath Government worked in mission mode to successfully control the virus. “Strong leadership of Modiji and his concern for Uttar Pradesh has changed the perception of our state. We now set the example for other states to follow.

“Regarding our fight against the virus, I feel that the Yogi government implemented each of the directives passed by the Prime Minister, both in letter and spirit,” said Keshav Prasad Maurya, while adding, “our numbers would not have crossed the 2,000-mark. The figure would have been far less but for the way the Tablighi Jamaat members brought the disease here has been an unfortunate part…their conduct has been very disappointing for us. They (Jamaat) deeply dented our plans to contain the virus in the state. Despite such odds, we have managed to control it.”