VARANASI/GORAKHPUR, June 21 -- Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said people of Uttar Pradesh were earlier scared of taking the name of Azamgarh or identifying with the place but under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it has become the fortress of "indomitable courage".

He was speaking at the inauguration of the Gorakhpur Link Expressway at Salarpur in Azamgarh.

Taking a swipe at the Opposition, he alleged the previous (non-BJP) governments used to partner with D-company and Dawood gang instead of nurturing development, breached security and made Azamgarh a stronghold of terror but added that there was a sea change now.

"They did not do development, they nurtured Mumbai's D Company, they nurtured Dawood's gang wit...