Properties not demolished to punish rioters, but other violations: UP govt to SC

Amid controversy over ‘bulldozer politics’ under chief minister Yogi Adityanath, the Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that no property in the state was demolished to punish people accused of participating in violent protests against remarks by two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Prophet Mohammed.

The state clarified that bulldozers razed illegal constructions in accordance with municipal laws, and after providing due opportunity to the violators.

Submitting its affidavit in response to the court notice issued on June 16, the state government justified the action by its municipal authorities in Kanpur and Prayagraj, where three properties were demolished when violent protests against now suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled party leader Naveen Jindal took place over their remarks on the Prophet. Protests rocked these big cities of UP on June 3 and June 10.

The Yogi Adityanath government, in its affidavit, has taken a categorical stand that these demolitions “had no relation to the riots”, and that the actions were taken as part of the ongoing demolition drive against encroachment and illegal construction under the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1972.