Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik on Monday gave his assent to a Bill that seeks to withdraw 20,000 “politically motivated” cases filed across the State over protest demonstrations, including one against Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The case against Mr. Adityanath and a dozen others was filed for holding a meeting in alleged violation of prohibitory orders over 22 years ago.

Eight Bills passed during the winter session of the U.P. legislature got the Governor’s assent, including the Uttar Pradesh Criminal Law (Composition of Offences and Abatement of Trials) (Amendment) Bill.

Apart from Mr. Adityanath, who also holds the home portfolio, Union Minister Shiv Pratap Shukla, BJP MLA Sheetal Pandey and ten others were respondents in the case filed at Gorakhpur’s Pipiganj police station on May 27, 1995.

Mr. Adityanath, who was then the local MP of Gorakhpur, allegedly made a hate speech following the killing of a Hindu youth in a clash between two groups during a Moharram procession. He was arrested and spent 10 days in jail before being enlarged on bail.

In May this year, shortly after he took over the reins of the State, his government had told the Allahabad High Court that he cannot be prosecuted in another case for allegedly making a hate speech that was said to have triggered communal riots in Gorakhpur in 2007.

The Governor also gave approval to the UP Prayagraj Mela Authority, Allahabad, Bill 2017, aimed at having improved arrangements for holding Maha Kumbh, Kumbh, Magh and other ’melas’ at the Sangam in Allahabad, a Raj Bhawan communique said here today.