BSP chief Mayawati today alleged that a “wrong practice” of forcing people to chant religious slogans has begun in Uttar Pradesh and a few other states, while seeking tough action against it from the Centre and state governments.

Mayawati’s remarks came after a cleric claimed he was forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’. In some states, including Uttar Pradesh, a wrong practice of forcing people to chant religious slogans and committing atrocities has begun, and it should be condemned.

In her post, she said: “There is a need for the Centre and state governments to take tough action against it so that brotherhood and harmony is maintained everywhere and development is not affected.”

Citing a complaint lodged by the cleric, SP Shailesh Kumar Pandey said Imam Imlaq-ur-Rehman, a Muzaffarnagar resident, was going to his village on his motorcycle on Saturday, when 12 youngsters accosted him, beat him up and also pulled his beard.