Maulana Kalbe Jawad demands Yogi’s apology on Ali-Bajrang Bali comment

Lucknow: Condemning the statement made by UP chief minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath, Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad Naqvi on Thursday called it inciting and demanded an apology.

As reported by the Times of India, Maulana Kalbe Jawad general secretary of Majlis-e-Ulama-e-Hind (MuH), in a press statement said, “If no other political party is asking for votes in the name of Hazrat Ali and Bajrang Bali, then why is the CM making such a speech?”

Even if other political parties had claimed to have fought the election using the name of Hazrat Ali, then also it would not have been right for Yogi to say so.

Striking a controversy on Tuesday during a rally in Meerut, CM Yogi had said Hindu and Muslim voters are in an “Ali-Bajrang Bali” tussle. He was quoted to have said “Agar Congress, SP, BSP ko Ali par Vishwas hai toh humein bhi Bajrang Bali par Vishwas hai”. The statement drew flak from both Hindu and Muslim communities.

Kalbe Jawad condemned Yogi’s statement saying, it is not befitting for a CM of the state to make such statements. He said Hazrat Ali is also not just revered by Muslims, but is followed by all communities. He said Yogi Adityanath’s comment has hurt the sentiments of all. He sought an apology from the CM.