Yogi Adityanath warns against namaz on roads before Bakrid:Says, ‘If people don’t listen politely, other methods will be used’

A week before Bakrid, UP CM Yogi Adityanath warned against offering namaz on roads. Speaking at an event in Lucknow on Monday, he said, “Namaz will not be allowed on roads. If people agree peacefully, fine; otherwise, stricter measures will be taken.” If you want to offer namaz, do it at a designated place. If the numbers are more, do it in shifts. We will not stop namaz, but we will not allow anarchy on roads. Roads are not for offering namaz or gathering crowds of any kind. He said, “People ask me whether namaz happens on roads in UP? I say, ”absolutely not. Roads are for common people to walk on. No one has the right to come and disturb traffic.” CM Yogi said, “People tried their hand in Bareilly, and they also saw the strength of the government. The law is equal for everyone. No one will be allowed to block roads or create disorder.” He was referring to the violence in Bareilly in September 2025 over the ‘I Love Mohammad’ controversy. Muslim leader Maulana Tauqeer Raza had announced a sit-in protest after namaz. When police tried to stop the gathering, stone-pelting broke out, following which police resorted to lathi-charge. Highlighting UP’s development, Yogi said the state was once known for guns and bombs, but is now manufacturing BrahMos missiles. “If the atmosphere is negative, ‘One District-One Mafia’ emerges. If it is positive, ‘One District-One Product’ is created,” he said, adding that investment and employment are rapidly increasing in the state. He claimed UP is on track to become a 1 trillion-dollar economy. On women’s safety, the CM said women in UP earlier feared stepping out even during the day, but are now working night shifts and returning home safely. “No one can harass daughters now,” he said. Yogi added that UP is no longer a ‘BIMARU state’ and has remained revenue surplus for the past six years. He further said the state no longer needs to depend on anyone and has immense potential in agriculture, infrastructure and youth power. According to him, the government is focusing on balanced development across all 75 districts. Yogi had also raised the issue of namaz on roads during the recent West Bengal Assembly election campaign. Targeting former Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee over alleged appeasement politics, he had said, “Didi allows namaz on roads and restricts Hindu festivals. In UP, roads are meant for traffic, not namaz. There is no curfew, no riots, and everything is peaceful.” Yogi government had banned offering namaz on roads The Yogi government completely banned namaz on roads in 2022-2023. Orders were issued that namaz would not be offered on roads on Eid, Alvida Jumma or any other day. Religious events should only be held inside Eidgah, mosques or designated religious places. ​