SP 'antisocial', 'appeases minorities' & linked to terrorists: BJP

New Delhi: BJP described Samajwadi Party as anti-social and endorsers of minority appeasement, on Saturday, while alleging that the Akhilesh Yadav headed party has relations with terrorists involved in the 2008 Ahemdabad blasts, PTI reported.

In a press conference at the BJP national headquarters, Union minister Anurag Thakur produced a photo that featured a man, reportedly the father of one of the convicts, with SP chief Akhilesh. With the photo, Thakur substantiated his claim that SP has links with the convicts. He said that the BJP has zero tolerance for terrorism, unlike SP, which stands with those involved in terrorist activities. He sought a response from Yadav.

Thakur further alleged that SP says 'Ram' but supports terrorists. It is not Samajwadi Party but Samajvirodhi Party (anti-social party) and only intends to appease minorities, he said.

The claims by Thakur came a day ahead of the third phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP and the SP are locked in a direct contest.

However, Akhilesh Yadav had given an even reply to Thakur that if he is a terrorist, Thakur is also a terrorist, since both were travelling together when the Ahemdabad blast took place. They were in a car, with Neeraj Shekhar, travelling to the defence office where the Territorial Army's training was going on.

Yadav went on that the current election is to save democracy and the Constitution. The people are unhappy with BJP, and they will oust the party from Uttar Pradesh. SP will strengthen institutions in the state, Yadav added.

On Friday, a special court had sentenced accused 38 members of the terrorist group Indian Mujahideen (IM) on the Ahemadabad blasts case, in which a series of blasts took the life of 56 people and injured more than 200. The court gave life terms to 11 others who were affiliated with IM.