New Delhi: The BJP has once again accused Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav of showing his “love” for Pakistan and its founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, as Uttar Pradesh goes to polls in two weeks.
Speaking to the media on Monday, January 24, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “Jinnah se jo karey pyaar, wo Pakistan se kaise karey inkaar (Those who love Jinnah, how can they reject Pakistan).”
Patra’s comments come in response to Yadav, who earlier in an interview to Economic Times, had said, “Our real enemy is China. Pakistan is our political enemy. But BJP only targets Pakistan because of their vote politics.”
Yadav said the Chinese have encroached on Indian land and Indian businesses also. “The Indian government should think about this and consult opposition parties on how to deal with the situation,” he said.
Patra on Monday claimed Yadav’s remarks only indicated his “love” for Pakistan.
In an earlier instance too, Yadav came under severe criticism from BJP leaders, who accused the SP chief of crediting Jinnah for India’s independence from the British.
Also read: Fact Check: Did Akhilesh Yadav Really Say ‘Jinnah Got India Freedom’?
However, a fact-check by AltNews revealed that Yadav’s remarks were deliberately distorted, to portray him as having a soft corner for Pakistan and Jinnah.
On October 31, 2021, addressing a gathering on the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel from Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, Yadav said, “Sardar Patel used to make decisions keeping in mind the situation on the ground. He would only make decisions after gaining a proper understanding of what was happening at the grassroots level. That’s why he is known as the Iron Man of India. Sardar Patel, Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and [Muhammad Ali] Jinnah became barristers after attending the same institution. They got freedom for India. They did not back down from any struggles. It was Iron Man of India Sardar Patel who imposed a ban on an ideology (RSS).”
Following this, Amit Malviya tweeted a video of Yadav’s speech, not in full, but a conveniently truncated version, in which the SP chief is saying, “Jinnah became a barrister after studying in the same institution. He obtained his education and served as a barrister in the same place. He got freedom for India. He did not back down from any struggle…”
The part where Yadav referred to Patel, Nehru and Gandhi was omitted. Following this several BJP and Hindutva supporters slammed Yadav.
With elections a few weeks away in the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, BJP has ramped up its communal rhetoric.