Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (U.P.,) once again made controversial comments regarding the ongoing Citizenship (Amendment) Act [CAA,] 2019, protests.
On the 19th of February, Mr. Adityanath said, “Agar koi marne ke liye aa raha hai to woh zinda kahan se ho jayega. (If someone is coming with the intention to die, then how will that person remain alive.)”
The comments of U.P., CM came after the Indian National Congress (INC) and other opposition parties questioned the death of 24 people due to anti CAA protest in U.P., in December 2019.
The opposition blamed the State Police and Government for the deaths, Mr. Adityanath denied the allegations and said none of the deaths occurred due to police intervention. The U.P., Police since backed away from the claims that none of the protestors died due to them. The U.P., Police since backed away from this claim .
Mr. Yogi Adityanath said, “When someone comes out on the street with the intention to shoot people, then he dies or the policeman dies(sic.)”
The argument on the matter continued after Ram Govind Chaudhary, a leader of the Samajwadi Party (SP) justified the actions of the protestors saying, the citizens of U.P., have rights to protest under democracy. Mr. Chaudhary also asked the Yogi Adityanath led government, why they did not order an inquiry into these deaths, instead they are directing the state police to suppress the agitation.
However, CM Adityanath rubbished all the allegations and said, the U.P., Government is not against the protest, but anti national elements. Mr. Adityanath said, “If anyone tries to vitiate the atmosphere then we will reply to them in their language [wah jis bhasa mein samjhega, us bhasha main samjhayenge.]” In addition, Yogi Adityanath asked, “What is wrong with the Act? The BJP has not drafted CAA, but the Act was framed in 1955 after the Nehru-Liyaqat pact. The Partition pained people and a large population suffered,”
CAA, an Act which provoked protests in major parts of India including Delhi, West Bengal, U.P., Hyderabad, Mumbai promises citizenship to refugees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, based on their religious belief.
The Act would give Indian citizenship to Jains, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Parsis and Sikhs, who have been residing in India since or before the 31st of December, 2014.
Though the Act is drafted to help the persecuted minorities from the aforementioned Islamic countries, the reason behind the protests is that the Act excludes Muslims.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act [CAA], 2019, was implemented by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the 11th of January, 2020.
