If you want to offer namaz, do it in shifts, but not on the road: CM Yogi
Lucknow, May 18: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that permission cannot be given to offer namaz on the road. If you want to live with the system, then start following the rules and regulations. If you want to offer namaz, do it in shifts, we will not stop you.
Chief Minister Yogi was addressing a program organized on the foundation day of a Hindi daily newspaper here on Monday. He said that people ask, “Is there really no namaz on the roads in your state of Uttar Pradesh?” I say, “Absolutely not. You should go and see, it is not. Are roads for walking, or will anyone come to an intersection and create a scene? What right does he have to block the road, obstruct traffic? Go and offer namaz where it is meant for this.”
Yogi said that people asked him, “How can this happen, our numbers are large?” We said, do it in shifts. If you don’t have space to stay at home, then control the numbers. If you don’t have the capacity, why are you increasing the numbers? If you want to live with the system, then start following the rules and regulations. If you want to pray, pray in shifts. We won’t stop you, but not on the streets. Ordinary citizens, sick people, laborers, and employees all walk on the streets; we won’t allow them to block the roads. If they agree with love, that’s fine; if they don’t, we’ll try another method. If they agree with dialogue, that’s fine; otherwise, we’ll try it with conflict. The people of Bareilly tried their hand, demonstrating the government’s power. The government wants to integrate the entire system with every system.
Referring to the changed picture of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi said that under previous governments, this state was known for pistols, bombs, riots, and mafia culture, whereas today, Uttar Pradesh is recognized for BrahMos missiles, defense corridors, expressways, international airports, and an investment destination. Thanks to law and order, infrastructure, and positive governance, the state has risen from the bottom two to the top two. There is zero tolerance for anarchy and chaos in the state. Anyone who molests a girl on the street will meet the same fate as Ravana and Duryodhana.
Regarding the current journalism, which is fueled by sensationalism and fake news, the Chief Minister stated that sensationalism and fake news spread chaos in society, while positive and sensitive journalism strengthens democracy.
He noted that Bharatendu Harishchandra elevated Hindi journalism to new heights. Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s writings gave a new direction to independence. Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi made journalism the foundation of the movement. In Kanpur, Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi worked to make journalism the foundation of the country’s independence and social justice. When an attempt was made to strangle democracy in 1975, eminent editors and reporters thwarted it. In democracy, not only the legislature, judiciary, or executive, but the media also plays a powerful role. Today the threat of deep-fake or fake news is looming everywhere.
Chief Minister said that if reporting were made sensitive instead of based on sensationalism, law and order problems would not have arisen in many places. Sensational news may bring immediate benefits to a reporter, newspaper, or media group, but when that news turns out to be fake, they may be put on trial. We remain alert for this, because once a fire is ignited by false news, it takes time to extinguish it. We do not want an atmosphere of riots and curfews to develop again in Uttar Pradesh. No one is allowed to spread anarchy in Uttar Pradesh.
