New Delhi: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has criticised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his remarks on offering namaz on public roads, calling his language inappropriate for a constitutional office holder.
The controversy emerged ahead of Eid Al Adha after the chief minister stated during a public programme that roads in Uttar Pradesh were meant for movement and not for offering namaz. He said no one had the right to block public roads for religious activity.
Yogi Adityanath suggested Muslims offer prayers in shifts if mosque spaces were insufficient. He also warned authorities would adopt “another method” if people did not cooperate through dialogue. His remarks referred to earlier confrontations in Bareilly linked to the “I Love Muhammad” campaign.
The statements triggered criticism from Muslim organisations and opposition leaders. AIMPLB spokesman Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas said the chief minister’s words resembled the language of a street agitator rather than a constitutional authority.
The Muslim board questioned why restrictions focused on Muslim prayers while other religious processions continued to use roads without similar objections. Ilyas pointed to Kanwariya yatras and argued authorities should apply rules equally across communities.
Muslim leaders said public religious gatherings required administrative coordination and dialogue instead of confrontational rhetoric. Critics of the Uttar Pradesh government argued such statements deepened fear and discrimination among Muslims.
Supporters of the government defended the remarks, saying public roads should remain open for movement and religious events should not disrupt daily life.
The debate has expanded into a wider political discussion around religious freedom, equal treatment and constitutional rights ahead of upcoming elections.
