‘There are people who incite sentiments on caste lines, exploit others… the bulldozer was made for such people,’ says Uttar Pradesh chief minister
NEW DELHI — In the aftermath of Friday’s violence in Bareilly during protests linked to the ‘I Love Muhammad’ campaign, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has made a series of highly provocative and communally charged remarks. Yogi said his government had sent a strong message that disruptions to law and order would not be tolerated.
Speaking at a ‘Viksit UP’ event organised by a media house in Lucknow on Saturday, the chief minister indirectly targeted the Muslim community, warning that those who participate in protests would face consequences so harsh that “future generations will think twice before disturbing law and order.”
Adityanath said, “Earlier, festivals used to be accompanied by upheaval, but now rioters will be taught a lesson in the language they understand so that their future generations also remember. Sometimes bad habits don’t go easily — denting-painting is required. You saw this in Bareilly yesterday. A Maulana forgot who is in power.”
Though he did not name anyone, the remarks were directed at cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan, chief of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council, who was arrested for supporting the ‘I love Muhammad’ campaign.
“He thought he could halt the system by issuing threats, but we made it clear there would be neither a roadblock nor a curfew. However, a lesson has been taught,” the chief minister said.
Adityanath defended the use of bulldozers against people booked in criminal cases. “There are people who incite sentiments on caste lines, exploit others… the bulldozer was made for such people.”
Clashes erupted in Bareilly’s Kotwali area on Friday after a large crowd carrying ‘I Love Muhammad’ posters gathered outside a mosque following the cancellation of a demonstration announced by Khan.
Police carried out overnight raids, arresting eight people, including Khan, and placed over two dozen others in detention. Officials said more than 500 suspects were being identified through video and CCTV footage. – with inputs from IANS
