Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav's remark comparing Mohammad Ali Jinnah with Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru at a party rally in Hardoi has sparked major controversy.
He mentioned all the four names in the same breath as leaders who fought for India's Independence.
Showering praise on Sardar Patel's 146th birth anniversary, Mr Yadav equated all the four leaders including Jinnah who is the founder of Pakistan.
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The SP head, addressing a rally in Hardoi, said, "Sardar Patel understood the ground and he made decisions accordingly. Hence, he is also known as Iron Man. Sardar Patel, Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and (Muhammad Ali) Jinnah studied in the same institute and became barristers. They helped (India) get freedom and never backed away from any struggle.”
Akhilesh Yadav’s comment has not gone well with the ruling BJP party and has sought Yadav’s apology. The party said he should rad history before making any such remarks.
Criticising Yadav, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday called his comments ‘shameful’. "Samajwadi Party chief yesterday compared Jinnah to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. This is shameful. It's Talibani mentality that believes in dividing. Sardar Patel united the country. Presently, under the leadership of PM, work is underway to achieve Ek Bharat, Shresth Bharat," said Yogi.
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UP BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh tweeted in Hindi saying, "Why is Akhilesh Yadav praising Muhammad Ali Jinnah on the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel?"
In a video message, BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Brijlal, said: "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."