Breaking his silence four days after Kasganj town was rocked by communal violence, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said strict action will be taken against those involved.
Adityanath’s reaction came after an attempt was made to desecrate a religious place on Tuesday.

Earlier, late on Monday night, a ‘paan’ shop was set on fire by miscreants. In both the incidents, police acted quickly and ensured that the situation did not go out of hand.
The situation in Kasganj on Tuesday remained tense but under control.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, a row erupted over the Facebook post – later deleted – by the Bareilly district magistrate who questioned the taking out of processions and raising of anti-Pakistan slogans in Muslim-dominated localities.

The Chief Minister said anarchy and corruption will not be tolerated and all-round development continued to be the agenda of his government.

He told press persons here that the perpetrators of violence will not be spared and stern action will be taken against those indulging in anarchy.

He added that the government was committed to providing security to all citizens.

After the Kasganj violence, the Adityanath government has been under fire from the opposition for its failure to maintain law and order. One person was killed and several others injured in the clashes.The violence even drew the ire of Governor Ram Naik, who termed it “shameful” and a “blot” on the state.

The Bareilly district magistrate Raghvendra Vikram Singh has reportedly deleted the Facebook post in which he questioned the raising of anti-Pakistan slogans in Muslim-dominated areas.

The DM wrote in his post that the same thing had happened in Khailam village in Bareilly where stones were pelted and FIRs lodged.

Singh had posted the observation on his Facebook account on 28 January, two days after the Kasganj violence. Singh, an ex-Army officer, is due to retire in April.

Singh’s observation met with strong reaction from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said in Allahabad on Tuesday that the district magistrate’s statement was more in the nature of one by a spokesperson of a political party.

Maurya told reporters that the state government had taken strong exception to the DM’s observation. He reportedly said action would be taken against the official.