Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow
Lucknow, Sept 27: In a strongly worded statement following Friday’s violence in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday made it clear that his administration will deal firmly with any attempts to disrupt public order. Speaking at the Viksit Uttar Pradesh Vision-2047 event in Lucknow, he warned that instigators of communal unrest would face such stringent action that “future generations will think twice before disturbing law and order.”
Referring to the events in Bareilly, the Chief Minister said that a local cleric had allegedly threatened to paralyse the city after Friday prayers, but underestimated the state's current leadership. “He forgot who is in power in Uttar Pradesh,” Adityanath remarked.
He emphasized that the era of lawlessness and appeasement was over. “There will be no curfews or road blockades. Those who try to incite unrest will be taught a lesson — one that corrects their dangerous tendencies,” he stated.
Taking aim at previous administrations, the CM accused them of fostering criminal syndicates and legitimizing mafia rule. “Earlier, rioters were welcomed to the CM’s residence. Mafias were allowed to run districts as their personal fiefdoms. You must have seen those in power proudly shaking hands even with the mafia's pet dogs,” he said.
He went on to describe how, under past governments, corruption flourished. “It was a system of ‘One District, One Mafia.’ Agriculture suffered, jobs were sold off, extortion became common practice, and transfers were auctioned by brokers. We dismantled this corrupt ecosystem — that’s why their sympathizers are crying foul today,” he added.
Adityanath also claimed that before 2017, religious festivals often ended in violence. “But we brought an end to those disturbances. Sometimes bad habits don’t go away easily — they must be corrected with firm action. What happened in Bareilly was a necessary correction,” he said.
He made it clear that the use of state machinery — including the infamous bulldozers — would continue against those trying to create divisions along caste or religious lines. “The bulldozer is our tool against the corrupt, the divisive, and the criminal,” he said.
Friday’s unrest in Bareilly erupted during a religious procession where participants carried placards reading "I Love Muhammad" and reportedly ignored police instructions to disperse. Protesters chanted slogans like "Nara-e-Taqbeer" and continued marching towards Islamia Ground and Khalil School Chowk. Police eventually used force to restore order.
Despite Friday’s violence, officials confirmed that Bareilly remained calm on Saturday, with no fresh incidents reported. Authorities are maintaining a close watch to ensure peace continues in the region.