Defending the police action during anti-CAA protests in Uttar Pradesh in December last year, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said those killed were shot by other rioters and nothing can be done to save someone with a death wish.

Wrapping up the discussion in the state assembly on the Governor's address, Adityanath said, "UP main koi danga nahi hua. Agar koi marne ke liye aa hi raha hai, vo zinda kaise bachega. Police ki goli se koi nahi mara (There were no riots in UP. If someone is coming with an intention to die, how can he remain alive? Nobody died of police bullets)."

At least 19 people were killed during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) in December 2019. While families alleged that they were killed in police firing, the administration has denied the charges.

Adityanath said the role of the police in dealing with rioters should be appreciated. The chief minister said his government supported democratic protests but will maintain law and order by dealing strictly with those indulging in violence.

"Jo jis bhasha main samjhega, usey uss bhasha main samjhayenge (We will talk to them in the language they understand)," he warned. "If someone comes out to kill an innocent person and he is challenged by police, then either he or the policemen have to die."

"Rioters died of rioters' bullets," he added.

The chief minister claimed that the anti-CAA protests were funded by Popular Front of India, which he said is "another name" for banned terror group SIMI.

"Any sympathy for them means, support to the PFI and SIMI. Those who commit treason will die an anonymous death (gumnam maut)," he said.

The chief minister claimed that "azadi" slogans were being raised during the protests.

"What kind of 'azadi'? We have to see whether we want to fulfil the dreams of Bapu or Jinnah," he said.

During his two-hour speech, Adityanath also attacked the opposition charges against him on crime and women empowerment.