Yogi Adityanath government has started a drive to catch rats across the state, prompting a derisive Opposition to remind it of the fate of its vaunted “anti-Romeo” campaign and also of the rodents’ scriptural sanctity.

Officials said the state agriculture department has been asked to procure wire mesh traps and catch rats and mole rats to protect farms and people.

“We have been asked to make the district rat free,” said Saras Kumar Tiwari, the district agriculture officer of Hamirpur who has deployed over 50 employees to catch the rodents. “We have been told this anti-rat drive is to protect farms and homes and shield people from communicable diseases.”

Tiwari added: “The drive began on March 1 and will continue till the 31st of this month. Besides catching rats, we are also spreading popular awareness about the diseases these animals spread.

An official from the agricultural directorate said the order had been issued on February 25 after a discussion with the ministers and senior bureaucrats in the agriculture and health departments.

“There’s been a general complaint that rats are not only damaging crops and bothering households but are also spreading deadly viruses. We have reports that all the 75 district are acting on the directive.”

The official said the state government had sought progress reports on March 9, 16, 23 and 30. A review of the drive would be held in Lucknow on April 4.

Congress leaders have ridiculed the campaign.

“Adityanath had launched an anti-crime campaign but his own police say the state still witnesses half-a-dozen murders and a dozen rapes every day,” senior state Congress leader Dwijendra Tripathi said.

“He had also formed an anti-Romeo squad within the police to protect women but it became defunct, and at least two women are committing suicide every day. Women are leaving school and college in fear of rapists and molesters. His government had also started a drive against stray cattle but the animals continue to damage standing crops. Now the chief minister wants to free the state of rats!”

State Congress spokesperson Brajesh Badal said: “Adityanath says he will punish those who harass cows because Hindus believe that the cow is our mother. Similarly, Lord Ganesh rides a rat; so rats are holy for us too. The chief minister, who is a monk, should keep that in mind because harassing rats means harassing Lord Ganesh.”