Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday condemned the recent violence in Bareilly and warned of strict action against those involved. Speaking at a public meeting in Balrampur, he referred to the lathi-charge during the clashes and cautioned that anyone attempting similar protests would face the same consequences.
“A few individuals should not be allowed to spoil the environment. These are the same people who brought an identity crisis to Uttar Pradesh along with corrupt governments. There were no investments or developments in the State due to these people,” Yogi said. He added, “Now they are adopting new tactics. But they must remember that we are more prepared than they think. They will be beaten just as they were beaten in Bareilly.”
Addressing the controversy over the ‘I Love Muhammad’ posters, the Chief Minister criticised the act, saying, “These fools don’t even know that symbols of faith are honoured, not loved. Faith isn’t something to be displayed at crossroads; it’s a matter of conscience. Some people are creating chaos in society by giving small children posters of ‘I Love Muhammad’. They don’t even realise that their own lives are already ruined, but they’re hell-bent on ruining the lives of these children as well.”
He also warned that attempts to create disorder would not be tolerated, stating, “The government will never accept this kind of anarchy. Anyone who attempts to take the law into their own hands, be informed in advance that we will issue them a ticket to hell without asking. This anarchy is unacceptable.”
The remarks came after protests outside Ala Hazrat Dargah and the residence of Ittehad-e-Millat Council chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan in Bareilly turned violent. UP Deputy Inspector General of Police Ajay Kumar Sahni confirmed that Maulana Tauqeer Raza, identified as the main conspirator, has been arrested and sent to judicial custody.
This story was originally published in theobserverpost.com.