Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday, 18 May stated unequivocally that offering namaz on public roads must not be permitted, asserting that roads exist for traffic movement and commuting — not for activities that block public spaces or inconvenience ordinary citizens. The remarks were made at a public event in Lucknow and were later shared by the Chief Minister on his X handle.

What Yogi Adityanath Said

Addressing the gathering, CM Yogi said he is routinely asked whether road namaz continues in Uttar Pradesh, and he flatly denied it. 'I am often asked whether people in Uttar Pradesh really do not offer namaz on the roads. I clearly say that this does not happen at all. You can go and see for yourself. Roads are for traffic movement,' he said.

He further argued that no individual holds the right to block an intersection or public thoroughfare for any purpose that impedes the movement of people or vehicles. 'Can anyone come and set up a drama at an intersection? What right does he have to stop traffic? They should go and offer it at the designated places,' he added.

Shifts as a Solution to Overcrowding

The Chief Minister proposed conducting large religious gatherings in multiple shifts when the crowd exceeds available space at designated venues, rather than allowing the overflow onto public roads. He recalled that when concerns were raised about accommodating large congregations, the administration had already suggested a shift-based approach.

'Some people told me, ‘How will this happen, our numbers are very large?’ We responded that we would offer it in shifts. If there is no space at home, then control the numbers. Unnecessary crowding should not be increased,' he said.

Rule of Law Applies Equally, Yogi Asserts

Yogi underlined that the rule of law applies equally to every citizen, and that public spaces cannot be used in ways that create civic disorder or inconvenience others. He was careful to frame the directive as a matter of public order rather than religious restriction. 'We will not stop namaz, but it should not happen on roads,' he stated.

Sharing the video on his X handle, CM Yogi added: 'We’ll get you to agree with love; if you don’t agree, we’ll adopt another method.'

Pattern of Similar Remarks

This is not the first time Yogi Adityanath has raised the road namaz issue. He made comparable remarks during the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election campaign, where he criticised the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) government over law-and-order concerns and religious gatherings in public spaces. The recurrence of the theme signals that it remains a consistent political and administrative position for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Uttar Pradesh. Critics argue that such statements, while framed around civic order, carry a communal undertone that can deepen social polarisation.

With assembly election cycles approaching in several states, the remarks are likely to reverberate beyond Lucknow and into the national political discourse.