Those involved in vandalism are now apologizing: Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Saturday that his government decided to seize the properties of those who indulged in vandalism during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), after which the protests died down.

The BJP leader was addressing a rally in support of the CAA at GYMC Ground here.

The UP CM said there was no violence in his state after the Supreme Court delivered its verdict in the Ayodhya case, paving the way for construction of Ram temple.

"Congress created an atmosphere of violence on the issue of CAA, but we decided to seize the properties of those who were indulging in violence.

"There is no vandalism, there are no protests now, instead the accused are seeking apology," he said.

The "reality of such people" should be revealed, and his government put up posters with photographs of those accused of vandalism in various cities, Adityanath added.

Accusing the Congress and other opposition parties of misleading people on the CAA and inciting violence, he said, "This is a law to give citizenship and not to snatch away anyone's rights.

"The Congress, which once trampled on the Constitution by imposing the Emergency, is now talking about saving the Constitution. The states ruled by Congress and its allies are talking about not implementing the CAA. Is this not a defiance of the Constitution?" he asked.

The need for the CAA would not have arisen if the Nehru-Liaquat agreement, by which India and Pakistan committed themselves to protecting the religious minorities, had been honoured by Pakistan, he said.

"There is a difference between refugees and infiltrators. Infiltrators were involved in terrorist incidents in the country," the UP chief minister said.