Srinagar

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has castigated Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath for his anti-Muslim speeches and attempts to instigate communal violence in the country.

In a statement issued here, the party condemned Yogi’s recent speech in which he had stated that if the BJP came to power in Telangana, Asaduddin Owaisi, president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, would have to flee. “It is not about Owaisi alone, it is the feeling which is being created across the country due to which a hate campaign against Muslims is being launched,” said former minister and senior PDP leader Naeem Akhtar. He also warned that such a mindset being exhibited by BJP leaders, particularly Yogi Adityanath, was very dangerous and could be very harmful to the integrity of the country. He slammed the UP Chief Minister for linking Muslims with terrorist activities, stating that an impression was being given that Muslims were the root cause of all problems the country was facing.

“It is worrisome to find that the poison is being spread even to those areas where communities have been living very peacefully in harmony for centuries and it is quite unfortunate that the Muslim community is being pushed against the wall with targeted violence in the form of lynchings, threats and intimidations taking toll,” said the PDP leader.

Akhtar said Owasi was a Member of Parliament and had sworn his allegiance to the Constitution and why should he have to leave Hyderabad even if he were to lose the elections there.