Brij Lal strongly supported the UP government’s decision to stop namaz on public roads. He praised Yogi Adityanath and said the move would strengthen law and order in the state.
At the same time, Brij Lal sharply criticised previous governments led by the Samajwadi Party and the Indian National Congress. He accused them of promoting “Muslim appeasement politics” for many years.
Brij Lal Attacks Past Governments
Brij Lal said earlier governments organised large Iftar events at official residences, including the President’s House, PM’s residence, and CM’s bungalows. According to him, ministers competed with each other to host grand Iftar parties and serve expensive food.
He also claimed that several senior officers joined such events to impress political leaders. He named officials like DMs, SSPs, SPs, commissioners, DIGs, and IGs. According to him, these officers arranged Iftar gatherings at their government residences during SP rule.
Brij Lal argued that officials never showed the same enthusiasm for Hindu festivals. He claimed many officers avoided organising Hindu religious events because they feared political backlash.
Reference to the 2003 Ayodhya Incident
The former DGP also referred to an incident from 2003 during the government of Mulayam Singh Yadav. He claimed an IG-level officer wanted to organise an Iftar event near the famous Hanumangarhi Temple in Ayodhya.
According to Brij Lal, the then SSP of Faizabad stopped the event because of security and religious concerns. He further alleged that some people planned to offer namaz close to the temple premises by placing prayer mats on the stairs leading toward the temple area.
Brij Lal claimed the police immediately removed the mats and prevented the situation from escalating. He also alleged that idols of Hindu deities inside the Mahant’s residence became “impure” during the controversy.
Strong Political Message
Brij Lal used the incident to attack the SP’s past policies. He accused the party of following appeasement politics and trying to divide society for vote-bank gains.
His remarks have once again sparked debate over religion and politics in Uttar Pradesh. Supporters of the BJP believe that strict action on public religious gatherings helps maintain law and order. However, opposition parties continue to accuse the government of using religious issues for political polarisation.
The statements from Brij Lal are likely to intensify the political debate ahead of future elections in the state.
