Lucknow, January 5: Paying homage to former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister ‘Padma Vibhushan’ Kalyan Singh Babuji at a function held at the residence of Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Basic Education Sandeep Singh at 2 Mall Avenue on the occasion of his 94th birth anniversary, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that Babuji Kalyan Singh chose resolve and principles, not power. This was the biggest hallmark of his public life.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that in 1991, when Kalyan Singh took charge as the first BJP Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, the state was grappling with serious challenges of chaos, anarchy, and crime. Terrorist activities were on the rise, and the benefits of government schemes were not effectively reaching villages, the poor, farmers, women, and youth. The administrative system was weak, and confidence in law and order had been shaken.
The Chief Minister said that during such difficult times, a full-majority government was formed under Babuji’s leadership, instilling confidence in the state to move forward towards good governance. Every citizen of the state felt a strong sense that Uttar Pradesh would now achieve new milestones of development with unwavering determination. However, during this period, political conspiracies were also hatched to destabilize his government.
Chief Minister Yogi said that Babuji Kalyan Singh’s tenure coincided with the crucial phase of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi movement. He respected the sentiments of Ram devotees and the saint community, placing his unwavering faith in his beloved Lord Shri Ram above all else. Regardless of power, he made decisions in accordance with his duties and principles. He did not hesitate to relinquish power when necessary.
The Chief Minister said that Babuji’s government may have been lost, but he accepted moral responsibility for the events related to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi and courageously discharged his duties. His tenure will always be remembered as a decisive chapter in advancing good governance, development, and nationalist ideology.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that Babuji Kalyan Singh, born into a family of farmers, drew inspiration from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and embraced nationalism as his life’s core principle. He adhered to that ideology throughout his life, giving a clear direction to Uttar Pradesh politics.
Program coordinator, former MP Rajveer Singh “Raju Bhaiya,” said Babuji was an idea and an era. He never aimed for power, but placed resolve and principles above all else. Babuji’s politics was about uniting society. He established social justice not as a slogan, but as practice and policy. Bringing the underprivileged, the marginalized, farmers, youth, and women into the mainstream with dignity was his life’s mission.
Raju Bhaiya said that Babuji taught that position isn’t important, commitment is; power is temporary, but resolve is permanent. The magnificent temple of Lord Shri Ram in Ayodhya today is a living testimony to Babuji’s sacrifice, courage, and self-sacrifice. He said that Babuji’s ideology still inspires Uttar Pradesh and the country to move forward unitedly.
Present on the occasion were Minister Dr. Sanjay Nishad, Basic Education Minister Sandeep Singh, former BJP President Chaudhary Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary, MPs Satish Gautam and Mukesh Rajput, several MLAs and public representatives, as well as dignitaries and supporters, who paid tribute to Babuji Kalyan Singh by offering flowers on his portrait.