Bareilly: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued a stern warning to protesters a day after violence erupted over the ‘I Love Mohammad’ row in Bareilly following Friday prayers. Addressing a ‘Viksit UP’ event organised by a media house on Saturday (September 27), Adityanath said, “If you vandalise in the name of faith, attack pedestrians in the name of faith… attack the police, then we won’t let you go… chedhoge to chodenge nahi aur chodenge nahi toh fir chootoge bhi nahi [If you trouble us, we won’t spare you and then you won’t be able to escape].”
The Chief Minister noted that some people disrupt peace whenever Hindu festivals or celebrations approach, stating, “Faith is a matter of conscience, not a subject of protest… To cool their heat, we have to resort to denting and painting.”
Tensions after Bareilly clashes
Tensions escalated in Bareilly when a crowd carrying ‘I Love Mohammad’ posters clashed with police outside a mosque in the Kotwali area after Friday prayers. The violence followed the last-minute cancellation of a proposed demonstration by cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan, chief of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council, who alleged authorities had denied permission.
Raza Khan was arrested on Saturday for allegedly masterminding the violence. Police said he had used inflammatory speeches to incite the incident, which involved attacks on law enforcement and public property.
Yogi Adityanath targets cleric
Without naming him directly, the CM criticised Tauqeer Raza Khan, saying, “Sometimes people are not able to shun their bad habits easily. For that, denting-painting are required… You saw this in Bareilly yesterday. A Maulana forgot who is in power.”
Adityanath emphasised that attempts to halt the system through threats would not succeed, adding, “We made it clear that there would be neither a roadblock nor a curfew. However, you will be taught such a lesson that your future generations will never indulge in rioting.”
Background of the controversy
The controversy originated on September 4 during an Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi procession in Kanpur, when boards with ‘I Love Mohammad’ were installed. Some Hindu groups claimed it deviated from tradition and provoked religious tension. Police subsequently filed an FIR against 24 individuals.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Dinesh Tripathi, members of the Muslim community had erected boards and a tent on a public road near the gate of the usual Ram Navami procession. The row spread to multiple UP districts and even reached states like Uttarakhand and Karnataka, leading to protests and police crackdowns.
The incident drew national attention, with AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi asserting that expressing “I Love Muhammad” is not a crime.
Conclusion
Yogi Adityanath’s strong statement reinforces the UP government’s stance against religion-based violence and public disorder, signalling that law and order will be strictly enforced. The administration continues to monitor potential flashpoints to prevent further escalation while emphasising that faith should not be misused as a reason for unrest.