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New Delhi, June 22
The Uttar Pradesh Government has told the Supreme Court that demolitions of illegal structures were carried out by its Kanpur and Prayagraj municipal bodies as per law and were not related to punishing the accused involved in violent protests following remarks by two BJP leaders on Prophet Muhammad.
In an affidavit filed pursuant to pleas by Muslim body Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, the government said, “The demolitions have been carried out as part of routine effort against illegal constructions and encroachments.”
It said none of the actual affected parties, if any, had approached this court concerning the lawful demolition action. “As far as taking action against the accused in rioting cases is concerned, the government is taking stringent steps under different set of statutes, including UP Gangster and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act and Prevention of Public Property Damages Act and Uttar Pradesh Recovery of Damages to Public and Private Property Act,” it said.
The government submitted that even if any such alleged demolition action was to be challenged, the same was to be done by the affected party before the High Court.