Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s use of the word ‘Abba Jaan’ (father in Urdu) during a public meeting in Kushinagar district has stoked a massive controversy, with opposition leaders decrying what they said was an attempt to “communally polarize” the forthcoming Assembly polls.
Adityanath had made the remarks in an apparent reference to alleged appeasement policy adopted by the rival political parties.
“2017 ke pahle kya sabhi ko ration milta tha?….Abba Jaan kehne wale sara ration hajam kar lete the,” (did everyone get ration before 2017?…Those who say Abba Jaan used to digest all the ration), Adityanath said while speaking at a recent meeting.
The reference apparently was to the alleged preference given to the Muslims by the previous regimes of the Samajwadi Party and BSP in the state.
The remarks drew a sharp rebuke from the opposition party leaders, who termed it ‘communal’ and demanded action against the chief minister.
“BJP has nothing to show to the people…..the state government has done precious little for the common people and as the polls get nearer, the saffron party leaders are trying to divide the people along communal lines,”, said a senior SP leader.
BJP leaders, however, defended the remarks saying that Adityanath was only trying to make it clear that the state government did not differentiate on the basis of religion. (Deccan Herald)
