Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that “denting and painting must be done” for those who repeatedly break the law, in remarks widely interpreted as aimed at cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan. Raza, chief of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council, had called for a protest in support of the “I Love Muhammad” campaign in Bareilly, which prompted a police lathicharge
Speaking at the TOI Viksit UP-2047 Conclave, the Chief Minister emphasised that lawbreakers would be dealt with firmly. “When festivals occurred, some people would instigate riots. But we have taught trouble-makers a lesson that even their future generations will remember,” he said
“You saw this in Bareilly yesterday. The maulana seems to have forgotten whose government is in power. He thought he could halt the system whenever he wanted, but we made it clear there would be neither a roadblock nor a curfew. The lesson we have taught will make future generations think twice before rioting.”
Raza was taken into custody on Saturday. Addressing the public gathering, the CM questioned its intent, adding: “What kind of way is this to halt the system? Before 2017, such disruptions were common, but since then, we have not allowed even a single curfew. The story of UP’s development begins here.”
Adityanath asserted that Uttar Pradesh’s growth would surprise those focused only on casteism and dynastic politics. “For such people, the bulldozer was made. They mislead the public through slogans, but our government responds in their own language,” he said.
The Chief Minister criticised previous administrations, accusing them of fostering anarchy and neglecting the state’s potential. “Those in power lacked the capability to take action and were scared to do so. They used opportunities for ‘parivaarvad’, which ruined trade and industry. Corruption weakened bureaucracy, and UP, once a key part of the Indian economy, fell ill,” he said
He further accused leaders of such parties of being complicit with the mafia. “The chacha-bhatija duo were involved in extortion, while every district was handed over to mafia to run parallel governments. Do you think such people could make you safe? UP was not only BIMARU before 2017 but also suffered an identity crisis. Transfers and postings were auctioned, and we dismantled their illegal money-making schemes,” he added.
The controversy traces back to 9 September, when Kanpur police filed an FIR against 24 individuals for allegedly installing boards reading ‘I Love Muhammad’ during an Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi procession on 4 September. Some Hindu groups objected, claiming it deviated from tradition and was a deliberate provocation.
The row quickly spread across Uttar Pradesh and to states such as Uttarakhand and Karnataka, prompting protests and police action. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi weighed in, asserting that expressing love for the Prophet Muhammad was not a crime.
