Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and said he has freed the state of "mafias" by establishing rule of law in the true sense after 25 years. Amit Shah said mafias are present in three places -- either they are lodged in jail or they have moved outside Uttar Pradesh or they are on the list of members of the Samajwadi Party (SP).

Amit Shah was addressing an election meeting ahead of nomination filing by Adityanath from the Gorakhpur Urban assembly seat. The union minister also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking special care of development particularly of the Purvanchal region.