Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, warning against forces that divide society along caste, regional, or linguistic lines, said such elements are no different from figures like Jaichand and Mir Jafar.

The Chief Minister was speaking after dedicating a new auditorium in Sainik School in the name of India’s first CDS, late General Bipin Rawat.

He stressed that many people seek to divide the nation, some based on caste, others on region or language. Whenever these divisive forces gain power, they think only of themselves and their families, acquiring properties, hotels, and even islands abroad.

“These people work to weaken and impoverish the country,” he said. True national welfare, he asserted, cannot be achieved through short-term, caste or region-based appeasement. Real progress is possible only when discrimination ends, and unity prevails.

He also unveiled General Rawat’s statue and paid tribute on the fourth anniversary of the military leader’s passing. The statue has been installed by the GBR Memorial Foundation of India.

CM Yogi also released a booklet on General Rawat’s life. Remembering the former CDS’s legacy and service to the nation, he spoke about the country’s current challenges and urged everyone to adopt Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 'Panch Pran' for building Viksit Bharat. He described General Rawat as a warrior who embodied these values and said the Panch Pran should be embraced as guiding mantras for life.

Reflecting on the Amrit Mahotsav Year of 2022, CM Yogi recalled PM Modi’s call to envision the India we want to see by the centenary of independence. “Would any true Indian wish for a poor, insecure, or weak India?” he asked. Answering himself, he said a true Indian would aspire only for a strong, developed, and self-reliant nation. “If someone does not want this, they cannot be a true Indian,” he added. He emphasised that to build such an India, the Panch Pran must become part of everyday life.

The Chief Minister then spoke about one of his dream projects, the Sainik School in Gorakhpur, highlighting that it is equipped with modern facilities and offers residential education to both boys and girls. In 2018, he introduced a separate reservation for girls in Uttar Pradesh’s Sainik Schools. Today, the Gorakhpur campus has 310 cadets: 75 girls and 235 boys. He recalled inaugurating the school with then Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, himself a Sainik School alumnus. President Droupadi Murmu, during her visit to Gorakhpur, was also deeply impressed by the discipline of the cadets.

Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera, Director General of the Assam Rifles and special guest at the event, said that General Bipin Rawat’s service to the nation will forever be remembered in golden letters. He described General Rawat as a fearless and forthright leader who always spoke his mind. Emotional connection, he said, is vital in military life, and General Rawat understood this deeply. He maintained the perfect balance between discipline and compassion, never wounding anyone’s sentiments. His legacy, he added, is a guiding path and an enduring inspiration for every soldier.

Speaking at the inauguration of the General Bipin Rawat Auditorium, Air Chief Marshal (Retd.) RKS Bhadauria, former Chief of the Air Staff and President of the GBR Memorial Foundation of India, said, “The auditorium gifted by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in memory of India’s first CDS will always be remembered.”

He called it a fitting tribute on General Rawat’s fourth death anniversary, one that will inspire generations to come. Describing General Rawat as an exemplary soldier, he noted that the late CDS focused on strengthening coordination among the three armed forces and developing an integrated defence strategy for the nation. He was not only a master strategist but also a leader with deep respect for peace and human values.

CM Yogi Adityanath also honoured General Rawat’s daughters, Kritika and Tarini, with mementoes and shawls.