In news from India, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister (UP CM) Adityanath lashes out at Indian leader Akhilesh Yadav for praising Muhammad Ali Jinnah. According to the UP CM, Samajwadi Party President Yadav portrayed a “divisive mindset” by glorifying Jinnah.
Earlier on Sunday, Yadav made comments on Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, the First Deputy PM of India.
“Sardar Patel was attached to the grassroots of this country and that is why he was known as Iron Man of India. Sardar Patel, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Jinnah all studied in one institution and became barristers,” Yadav said.
“They helped (India) get freedom and never backed away from any struggle,” he further added.
#WATCH | Sardar Patel, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and (Muhammad Ali) Jinnah studied in the same institute. They became barristers and fought for India's freedom… It was Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who imposed a ban on an ideology (RSS): SP chief Akhilesh Yadav pic.twitter.com/Pz3HkSrqn8
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) October 31, 2021
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Yadav faces backlash
Interestingly, this did not sit well with many BJP leaders who slammed Yadav for comparing Jinnah to Sardar Patel.
Referring to Yadav’s remark, the Uttar Pradesh CM said it was shameful to “compare Jinnah with Sardar Patel”. He further said it is this “Talibani mentality” that divides the people.
“The Samajwadi Party chief yesterday compared Jinnah to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. This is shameful. It’s a Talibani mentality that believes in dividing. Sardar Patel united the country. Presently, under the leadership of the Prime Minister [Narendra Modi], work is underway to achieve ‘Ek Bharat, Shresth Bharat’,” Adityanath said.
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Moreover, BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Brij Lal also attacked Akhilesh Yadav in a video message.
“SP chief Akhilesh Yadav compared Iron Man (Sardar Patel) with Jinnah. Akhilesh Yadav must read history. Jinnah was involved in the mass murder of Hindus and also in the partition of the country. A day before the Sardar Patel anniversary, your father (Mulayam Singh Yadav) on October 30, 1990, had fired on Ram devotees in Ayodhya, and mother Saryu (river) became red,” Lal said.