Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday announced that Bhadohi district has been renamed Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadohi.
Making the announcement during a programme in the district, Adityanath said, “Now our Bhadohi district will be called Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadohi.”
During his visit, the chief minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 112 development projects worth more than Rs 1,340 crore.
District Renamed After Sant Ravidas
Adityanath said the government had announced the renaming on Guru Purnima, linking the decision to Sant Ravidas, the medieval-era saint associated with the Bhakti tradition.
“On the occasion of Guru Purnima, the government had said Bhadohi district, renowned for its carpet industry, would be known by the name of Satguru Ravidas Maharaj, a saint who united society through his spiritual devotion,” he said.
The chief minister said Sant Ravidas’ vision of a society where no one goes hungry and everyone benefits from welfare schemes had been realised.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, more than 80 crore people in India are currently receiving free ration. In this context, it is truly fitting that this district bears the name Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadohi,” Adityanath said.
Bhadohi Has Seen Multiple Name Changes
Bhadohi was earlier part of Varanasi district before becoming the 65th district of Uttar Pradesh on June 30, 1994.
The district has undergone several changes in nomenclature. On December 6, 2014, the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government changed its name from Sant Ravidas Nagar-Bhadohi back to Bhadohi.
On July 29 this year, Adityanath announced that the district would once again be renamed Sant Ravidas Nagar as part of a Dalit outreach initiative launched from Varanasi.
Yogi Targets Samajwadi Party
During Sunday’s programme, Adityanath also criticised the Samajwadi Party.
“The funds currently being spent on development of pilgrimage sites and beautification and preservation of heritage landmarks are the same funds that, before 2017, were used to encroach upon land in the name of constructing boundary walls for graveyards,” he said.
Adityanath said the BJP government’s “double-engine” model had curbed corruption and brought changes to the state.
“No one calls UP a ‘bimaru’ (ill) state anymore. No one can label UP ‘riot-prone’,” he said.
He also claimed that young people, women, traders, artisans and farmers were benefiting from government policies and development schemes.
Government Jobs for One Lakh More Youth
Adityanath said his government had provided government jobs to young people and announced that another one lakh youth would receive jobs in the next six months.
“In the next six months, the Uttar Pradesh government will provide jobs to another one lakh youth. Anyone who undermines the employment prospects of the youth will go to jail, and their property will be confiscated,” he said.
Focus on Connectivity and Pilgrimage Sites
Highlighting Bhadohi’s location between Varanasi and Prayagraj, Adityanath said the district had significant potential for infrastructure and tourism development.
He said he had specifically directed that Sant Ravidas Nagar be connected to the Ganga Expressway network through the Vindhya Expressway.
The chief minister also highlighted the Sant Ravidas Kutiya in Aurai tehsil as an important religious site. He said efforts had been made to include the Sita Samahit Sthal at Sitamarhi in the Ramayana Circuit.
According to Adityanath, government funds are being used to develop pilgrimage sites, preserve heritage landmarks and support places associated with people’s faith.
