The Samajwadi Party MP urges leaders to abandon hatred, highlights Islam’s deep roots in India
NEW DELHI/GHAZIPUR — Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Afzal Ansari has stirred a fresh political debate in eastern Uttar Pradesh after praising Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent statement urging unity and rejecting the politics of hatred. At the same time, Ansari strongly criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, accusing them of destroying social harmony and ignoring the struggles of ordinary citizens.
Speaking to the media after a review meeting on the power supply system in Ghazipur on Friday, the Samajwadi MP said Bhagwat’s words carried weight, especially as he leads the largest Hindu organisation in the country.
“Mohan Bhagwat has rightly said that the country needs unity and brotherhood, the business of hatred should be stopped,” Ansari told reporters. “If the RSS chief himself is warning that searching for Shivling in every mosque or shrine will weaken the nation, then all religious leaders should pay attention. I welcome his words and others should also welcome his positive message.”
The Ghazipur MP underlined that Bhagwat had spoken an important truth about Islam’s long presence in India. “Islam is not a new religion. It has been in India for centuries, deeply tied to our culture and society. Mohan Bhagwat has also made this truth clear,” Ansari said.
For many in the Muslim community, his statement was a reminder that calls for harmony should be respected when they come even from within the Sangh leadership, often accused of fanning communal divisions. Ansari’s remarks highlighted the need for leaders across religious communities to embrace coexistence instead of suspicion.
While acknowledging Bhagwat’s words, the SP MP did not hold back his criticism of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He accused Modi and Yogi of misusing religion for politics and neglecting the real concerns of citizens, including poverty, unemployment, and the worsening state of public services.
“Those who are sitting in Delhi have no family, and those sitting in Uttar Pradesh also have no family,” Ansari said from the stage, drawing loud reactions. When Ghazipur Sadar MLA Jai Kishan Sahu, seated beside him, remarked, “He is trying,” Ansari quickly added, “I am talking about the licensed family, not the unlicensed one. It is their misfortune that God has not given them children.”
The remarks were clearly directed at Modi and Yogi, both known for not having families. Political observers said his comments exposed the hypocrisy of BJP leaders who often attack opponents on personal grounds but avoid scrutiny of their own lives.
Turning to neighbouring Bihar, Ansari made another bold claim, predicting that Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav would lead the INDIA bloc in the state’s next assembly elections. “Tejashwi Yadav will be the chief ministerial candidate from the INDIA bloc. There is no controversy about this,” he said firmly.
Ansari’s statement carries significance because it reflects a section of Muslim leadership willing to cautiously welcome positive words from the RSS chief while exposing the contradictions of BJP leaders. His attack on Modi and Yogi is likely to provoke strong reactions from the ruling party, but it also signals that Muslims and secular leaders are prepared to challenge Hindutva politics directly.
By praising Bhagwat’s call for unity and criticising divisive politics, Afzal Ansari has positioned himself as both a defender of India’s composite culture and a sharp critic of those in power. For many in Ghazipur, his words echoed the frustration of communities tired of politics built on hatred.
“Our country cannot survive on hatred. We need electricity, education, jobs and health services, not endless fights over temples and mosques,” a local resident in Ghazipur said after the meeting. “Afzal Ansari has spoken the truth without fear.”
