Lucknow: CM of UP Yogi Adityanath On Monday he defended his government’s ban on offering prayers on the streets, saying that instead of blocking public spaces, prayers should be held at designated places of worship and recited “in shifts” if space is lacking.Speaking at an event organized by a news daily in Lucknow, Yogi said the roads are for commuters, patients and working citizens, and not for religious gatherings, and stressed that “the rule of law will apply equally to all”.He stressed that the government must ensure free movement at all times in a democracy governed by rules and regulations.“People ask if roadside prayers have been stopped in UP. I tell them to come and see for themselves. Now this does not happen at all. He said, “We are not stopping anyone from offering Namaz, but roads cannot be occupied for this.”Hitting out at the previous governments in UP, Yogi accused them of promoting anarchy, caste politics and appeasement and alleged that exam-cheating mafia and criminal syndicates flourished under their patronage, leading to an “identity crisis” for the state.“today’s Uttar Pradesh It is free from riots and curfew,” Yogi said, crediting decisive governance and law-and-order reforms for the state’s transformation and economic growth.Recalling the Emergency in 1975, Yogi Adityanath praised the journalists who made sacrifices to protect democracy. He also warned about fake news and deepfakes, urging media organizations to report more sensitively and avoid sensationalism to prevent a law-and-order crisis.