Bulldozing Lawlessness

Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is right to prioritize law and order over hollow outrage.

Uttar Pradesh

Few leaders in the country demonstrate the same clarity of purpose as Yogi Adityanath. The firebrand chief minister of Uttar Pradesh has made it clear that governance is not about appeasement or empty rhetoric but about action. His administration’s ‘bulldozer model’ is not merely a spectacle but a necessity against lawlessness. Encroachments, illegal constructions and criminal strongholds have no place in a state that aspires to law and order. The Supreme Court may fume over procedural lapses, but Adityanath’s approach resonates with millions who have long suffered under a broken system.

When asked about his administration’s demolition drives in a recent interview, Adityanath, with characteristically bluntness said it was not an achievement, but a need.

The opposition may howl in protest, but his words ring true. Uttar Pradesh, for decades, was plagued by rampant land grabs, unchecked criminal activity, and state apathy. The bulldozer, in this context, is a symbol of governance finally asserting itself against lawlessness. The idea that illegal structures should be demolished is hardly controversial. Yet, critics would rather quibble over procedure than acknowledge the larger truth: for the first time in years, encroachers fear the law.

Adityanath’s strategy is simple but effective. Those who respect the law have nothing to fear; those who flout it face consequences. It is a lesson in governance that is long overdue in India. The view of detractors is disconnected from the ground reality. Some have been particularly incensed that some homeowners were given only a night’s notice before their properties were razed. That may well be a lapse in procedure, but the broader concern should be whether these constructions were legal in the first place.

The judicial system’s moral posturing would be more convincing if it showed equal urgency in addressing the delays and inefficiencies that have allowed encroachment to flourish. Uttar Pradesh’s land mafias, emboldened by years of weak governance, have long exploited legal loopholes to seize property with impunity. Adityanath has shifted the balance in favour of the state, and that is precisely what makes his critics uncomfortable. The idea that the government should first engage in drawn-out legal battles before acting against encroachers is a luxury that Uttar Pradesh can ill afford.

Even more laughable is the notion that the bulldozer is inherently oppressive. On the contrary, it is a tool of both development and enforcement. As Adityanath himself pointed out, bulldozers are not just used for demolitions but also for infrastructure projects. The message is clear: governance must be decisive, not paralysed by endless litigation and bureaucratic red tape. In a state as vast and complex as Uttar Pradesh, only a firm hand can ensure compliance.

Predictably, the opposition has seized upon the Supreme Court’s remarks as a rallying cry against the chief minister. They claim that Adityanath is ruling with an iron fist, disregarding human rights. Yet their argument is disingenuous. The same leaders who now cry foul have turned a blind eye to decades of criminal encroachments and illegal settlements. They would rather the state remain a hostage to land grabbers than accept that forceful action is sometimes necessary.

Adityanath’s real crime, in the eyes of his detractors, is that he has refused to be politically correct. His brand of governance does not entertain the niceties of elite legal discourse. Instead, it delivers results. Uttar Pradesh, once infamous for its lawlessness, is now a state where criminals think twice before acting with impunity.

Ultimately, the bulldozer is a metaphor for the new Uttar Pradesh - one where the rule of law trumps special interests. Adityanath’s critics may never approve of his methods, but they cannot deny his effectiveness. India needs leaders who act, not just pontificate. If the courts are truly concerned about justice, they should spend less time sermonizing about procedural missteps and more time ensuring that the law is enforced fairly and swiftly. Adityanath, for all his bluntness, is doing just that. And for the people of Uttar Pradesh, that is what matters most.