Deaths during protests: Adityanath says nothing can save those with death wish

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister on Wednesday defended police over the deaths of anti-CAA protesters, saying they were shot by other rioters and nothing can be done to save someone with a death wish.

Wrapping up the discussion in the state assembly on the Governor's address, Adityanath said the role of the police in dealing with rioters during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act should be appreciated.

In hard-hitting remarks, the chief minister said his government supported democratic protests but will maintain law and order by dealing strictly with those indulging in violence.

Jo jis bhasha main samjhega, usey uss bhasha main samjhayenge (We will talk to them in the language they understand), he warned.

About 20 people died of gunshot wounds during violent protests in several parts of Uttar Pradesh in December.

If someone is coming with an intention to die, how can he remain alive? Adityanath said.

If someone comes out to kill an innocent person and he is challenged by police, then either he or the policemen have to die, he added.

The CM said nobody died of a police bullet during the protests.

Rioters died of rioters' bullets, he said, repeating the claim made earlier by police.

He claimed that the anti-CAA protests revealed terror funding by Popular Front of India, which is said is another name for banned terror group SIMI.

"Any sympathy for them means, support to the PFI and SIMI. Those who do treason with country, will die an anonymous death (gumnam maut)," he said.

He said criminals don't want their sons and daughters to become criminals, but some big leaders had sent their daughters amidst those who raise anti-national slogans.

The chief minister claimed that azadi slogans were being raised during the protests.

What kind of 'azadi'? We have to see whether we want to fulfil the dreams of Bapu or Jinnah," he said, referring to the founder of Pakistan.

During his two-hour speech, Adityanath trashed the opposition charges against him on crime and women empowerment.

In an indirect reference to the Samajwadi Party, he recalled how in the past MLAs "used to throw paper balls" at the podium during the Governor's customary address to the House.

"Those who insulted the Constitution are today trying to preach us about the Constitution. It's better they keep off or they will be badly exposed," he said.

Without naming former chief minister and Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, Adityanath recalled his controversial boys will be boys remark and mocked the opposition for speaking on women empowerment.

While opposing capital punishment for rape, Mulayam Singh Yadav had sparked an outrage by saying "ladke, ladke hain... galti ho jati hai (boys will be boys... they commit mistakes)."