CM slams oppn patronage to anti-CAA protesters

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday slammed the opposition parties for extending political patronage to anti-CAA protesters and sympathising with anti-national forces as conspiracy of funding of the protesters by Popular Front of India was unearthed by security agencies.

He was replying to the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address in the Assembly.
“Why have the opposition parties such sympathy with anti-CAA protests which are being carried out under the national tricolour and the Constitution. It’s a case of terror funding and threat to national security which has support of the organisations of Congress and Samajwadi Party,” Yogi charged.

Questioning the rationale for anti-CAA protests, the chief minister said that the protesters should at least spell out one objection against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
“The BJP did not make this law, it has been in existence since 1955, legislated after the Nehru-Liaquat pact was inked,” he charged.

Without naming SP chief Akhilesh Yadav for sending his teenage daughter to the anti-CAA protest site in Lucknow, Yogi said, “A criminal never aspires for his progeny to follow in his footsteps, but political leaders are encouraging their children to take part in anti-CAA protests. They will have to decide whether they want to realise the dreams of Gandhi or Jinnah.”

The chief minister also targeted those who have been protesting against the CAA across the state over the past weeks.
“Azaadi (freedom) slogans are being raised. What is azaadi? Do we have to work towards Jinnah’s dream or work towards Gandhi’s dream? The police should be praised for their work,” he said.
“I am not against protesters but would come down heavily against those indulging in violence. Anyone hiding behind democracy to vitiate the atmosphere will be taken to task. Those who try to undermine the law would be replied in their language,” he added.
Referring to Dr BR Ambedkar and Jogendra Nath Mandal (Dalit leader of Bengal who migrated to Pakistan and became law minister there), Yogi said, “Dr Ambedkar is the most celebrated national icon with maximum number of memorials built to cherish his memory. On the other hand, Jogendra Nath Mandal fled from Pakistan to India and lived the rest of his life in oblivion as he was a traitor.”
The chief minister added, “The opposition parties will have to decide whether they intend to follow the legacy of Dr Ambedkar or Jogendra Nath Mandal.”

Defending the UP Police for their action against anti-CAA protesters on December 19 and 20, Yogi said, “Those who ordered police firing on innocent karsewaks at Ayodhya in 1990 and made desperate efforts for releasing the accused in terror acts like serial blasts in district courts of Lucknow, Varanasi and Ayodhya and blast at Sankat Mochan temple in Varanasi are questioning the BJP government for its handling of anti CAA protests.”

Continuing his diatribe against SP patron Mulayam Singh Yadav, the chief minister, without taking names, said, “Those who defend rape convicts saying ‘boys are boys and sometime commit mistake’ are sermonising us on law and order and handling of anti-CAA protests.”

“Not one communal riot occurred after the anti-CAA protests in December and January in UP and Aligarh district administration conducted multi-layered dialogue with Aligarh Muslim University students and administration to prevent the situation from worsening and kept the situation under control.”

Yogi asserted that the police could not be mute spectators as public property was being destroyed and innocent people were being targeted by riotous mob.

The chief minister M said, “No one died from police bullets. All those who died have died of bullets from rioters. If someone goes to the street with the intent to shoot people, then either he dies or a cop dies.”.
Leader of opposition Ram Govind Chaudhary later told reporters that the chief minister’s statement showed the government’s utter disregard for civil liberties.

“This attitude is amply reflected in the behaviour of UP Police. The chief minister’s statement that no deaths had taken place due to police firing was in contradiction to Bijnor district police chief’s acceptance that one person was killed in police firing during the protests,” Chaudhary said.