Hardoi (UP), Apr 15 (PTI) Launching a scathing attack on Mamata Banerjee over the violence during protests in West Bengal against the Waqf law, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said “Bengal is burning” but its chief minister is “silent” and even calling the rioters “messengers of peace”.

Adityanath also said that stick is the only treatment for rioters, as “those who respond only to thrashing don’t understand words (Laton ke bhoot baaton se kahan manne wale hain)”.

Speaking in Hardoi after inaugurating and laying the foundation for 729 developmental schemes worth Rs 650 crore, Adityanath said, “You all can see how Bengal is burning but the chief minister of the state is silent. She even calls the rioters messengers of peace. They have given a complete free hand to the rioters in the name of secularism.

“This type of anarchy must be controlled. The entire Murshidabad has been burning for the past week. I would like to thank the court there for ordering the deployment of central forces and taking steps for the safety of the minority Hindus in the district,” he said.

Hailing the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, Adityanath said, “We are thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, who got the Waqf (Amendment) Bill passed (in Parliament), thereby reining in the loot of poor people’s land.

“Now, hospitals, schools and universities will come up on those lands, and no one will be allowed to grab them. That’s why these people are worried, because the loot will stop now and their goons will be rendered jobless.” Adityanath’s remarks came after violent protests erupted on Friday and Saturday in pockets of Murshidabad district, including Suti, Dhulian and Jangipur, triggered by anger over the Waqf law. The demonstrations soon escalated into clashes, leaving at least three people dead and several injured.

“The Congress, Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress are silent on the Murshidabad riots. The rioters are making threats and supporting what happened in Bangladesh. If they like Bangladesh so much, they should go there. Why are they becoming a burden on our land,” Adityanath asked.

Security forces are keeping a strict vigil to prevent any fresh episode of violence in Murshidabad district, officials said on Tuesday.

Personnel of the BSF, CRPF, state police and RAF have been deployed in large numbers in Jangipur, Dhuliyan, Suti and Shamsherganj, where no new incident of violence was reported in the past 48 hours, the officials said.

“When the security situation improves, investments come in, employment generation takes place, and exodus of youths comes down. Before 2017, riots used to take place every second-third day (in Uttar Pradesh). The only treatment for these rioters is stick, without which they can’t be reined in,” Adityanath said.

Talking about the development schemes, the chief minister said, “The PM Mitra Textile Park is going to come up on the borders of Hardoi district, which will benefit lakhs of youth. I was looking at the textile work of Mallawan town. Its craftsmanship and weaving work are beautiful. Once the textile park comes up, the talented weavers will find more work.

“Also, the youth will no longer have to go to Punjab and Surat in search of work. Rather, people from other states will come to Hardoi for work.” In March 2023, the government of India announced sites for setting up seven PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks for the textile industry.

The parks will come up in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

“India has become the fifth-largest economy in the world and will reach the third position in the next few years behind the US and China,” Adityanath said.

Stating that people must remain careful of those who are trying to fool the public and throw dust in their eyes, the chief minister said, “We have to believe in the Constitution framed by Babasaheb Ambedkar and join the process of development.” “Prime Minister Modi has presented the vision of a developed India to build a self-reliant nation. No one can stop India from becoming the world’s biggest power in 2047, thus fulfilling the dreams of our freedom fighters,” Adityanath said.

The chief minister also paid floral tributes to Raja Narpati Singh, who bravely resisted the British during the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, the Uttar Pradesh government said in a statement.

“The first war of Independence in 1857 gave the country a new impetus to unite and fight against the British. Mangal Pandey, Rani Lakshmibai, Nana Rao Peshwa, and Bandhu Singh – they all fought the British on their respective fronts. The British could not defeat Bandhu Singh in Gorakhpur,” Adityanath said.

Marking the occasion, the chief minister presented assistive devices to persons with disabilities besides distributing toys to children. PTI NAV ARI ARI