We gave one district, one product scheme; SP gave one district, one mafia: Adityanath

The ODOP scheme seeks to promote traditional industries synonymous with their respective districts to spur the local economy and create jobs.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday lambasted the Samajwadi Party (SP) for "nurturing gangsters" during its regime, while the emphasis of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remains on "One District, One Product".

Replying to a debate on the state's budgetary proposals in the assembly, Adityanath said while his government is working to promote the One District, One Product (ODOP) scheme, the erstwhile SP dispensation promoted "one district, one mafia" during its tenure.

The ODOP scheme seeks to promote traditional industries synonymous with their respective districts to spur the local economy and create jobs. The Uttar Pradesh government is making concerted efforts to increase the state's contribution to India's GDP from the current 8 per cent to 15-16 per cent to pave the way for rapid development of the country, the chief minister said.

The government is also working sincerely to achieve the target of making the state a USD 1 trillion economy, he said, adding Yadav, however, is trying to divert attention from the issue and promoting casteism.

While the BJP government is promoting the ODOP scheme, the erstwhile SP dispensation focused on promoting "one district one mafia" during its tenure, Adityanath said. Yadav was not present in the House during Adityanath's reply, but his uncle Shivpal Yadav was.

Yogi referred to the Prayagraj killing of a lawyer, Umesh Pal prime witness in the BSP MLA Rajpu Pal murder case of 2005, and said the leader of opposition's pictures have gone viral on social media.

"There were two ways to deal with a problem -- the first being to face the same while the other is to run away from it," he said, indicating that the leader of opposition had preferred to stay away instead of facing the situation.