LUCKNOW, June 16 -- Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said the objective of the grand ceremony for distribution of appointment letters to 60,244 newly recruited police personnel in Lucknow was to ensure that every citizen and family of the state gets the benefit of participation in governance without any discrimination. The event marked the largest induction of civil police officers in the country to date.

Before 2017, police recruitment in Uttar Pradesh was marred by nepotism and corruption-jobs were nearly impossible to secure without money or recommendations, the chief minister said, adding that era is over.

"We followed merit and transparency, respecting constitutional reservations," he said, adding that no discrimination occ...