Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir BJP leader Jahanzaib Sirwal on Friday threatened to resign from the party, objecting to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s remarks on the recent clashes in Bareilly linked to the “I love Muhammad” posters.
Calling the comments unacceptable, Sirwal alleged that the Uttar Pradesh Police had shown a “vindictive” attitude towards Muslims. He said this ran contrary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas (Support of all, development of all, trust of all).”
“What was a simple, heartfelt act of faith has been met with FIRs, detentions and inflammatory rhetoric, including Adityanath’s remarks about ‘denting-painting’ and teaching lessons to generations,” Sirwal said, according to PTI.
He insisted that an impartial inquiry must hold all wrongdoers accountable rather than target one community. Sirwal also warned that if the party failed to restore the confidence of Muslims, he would have no option but to step down.
Last week, Adityanath had said that those involved in the Bareilly violence would face “denting and painting” and be made to pay a price “that future generations will remember.”
The violence on September 26 erupted when a group carrying “I love Muhammad” posters clashed with police outside a mosque. At least 72 people have been arrested in connection with the incident, according to The Times of India.
Sirwal, while reiterating his commitment to the BJP, said he was deeply pained by the Uttar Pradesh government’s handling of the matter and asserted that no chief minister had the right to “threaten or intimidate” a community into silence.