Samajwadi Party Are "Worshippers Of Jinnah," Says: CM Yogi

CM Yogi slams SP as supporters of Pakistan

Lucknow: Just weeks before the upcoming Uttar Pradesh, the state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath targets his strongest political rival Samajwadi Chief Akhilesh Yadav through a tweet this morning calling the Samajwadi Party "worshippers of Jinnah" and supporters of Pakistan.

"They are worshippers of Jinnah, we are worshippers of Sardar Patel. Pakistan is dear to them, we sacrifice our life for Maa Bharati (Mother India)," the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister tweeted, referring to Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

The fierce jibe done by the UP Cheif Minister Yogi, who is seeking a second straight term in the election, has made deeply polarising comments like this in the run-up to an election that he and the BJP are determined to win.

He began a few weeks ago with an "80 versus 20" comment that was seen to depict the ratio of Hindu voters to Muslims. He said that 80 per cent of voters were with the BJP.

Recently, in a gathering, CM Yogi said: "Earlier Haj Houses used to be constructed in Ghaziabad, our government has constructed the Kailash Manasarovar Bhawan."

In western UP, the BJP has faced massive anger over the controversial farm laws, which were withdrawn by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after an 11-month protest and months ahead of elections in key states including UP and Punjab.

The BJP and Yogi Adityanath's divisive comments are seen to be an effort at taking the attention away from the farmer protests. Last year, the saffron-wearing Chief Minister, who is the head priest at the Gorakhnath Mutt in eastern UP, referred to Akhilesh Yadav's father Mulayam Singh Yadav as "abbajaan" (Urdu for father).