Team Clarion
LUCKNOW — Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Samajwadi Party (SP) for defending its Maharashtra MLA Abu Azmi overhis comments that Mughal emperor Aurangzeb was not a “cruel administrator” and “built many temples”.
Though Mr Azmi withdrew his comment, he was suspended for the whole ongoing budget session of Maharashtra Assembly.
Speaking in the UP Assembly, CM Yogi Adityanath slammed the Samajwadi Party for supporting its Maharashtra legislator Abu Azmi over latter’s comment on the Mughal emperor.
He said that those who see Aurangzeb as hero have no right to live in the country and demanded that the SP expels him for his controversial remarks on Mughal ruler.
CM Yogi also invoked socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia and slammed the SP for forgetting its ideological roots.
“I would like to tell the people associated with the Samajwadi Party that even if you do not take pride in India’s heritage, at least take into consideration the ideas of the people in whose name you do politics,” he said.
He called it “unfortunate” that SP leaders now regard Aurangzeb as their ideal rather than following Lohia’s vision.
Demanding Azmi’s expulsion from the party, CM Yogi said, “The Samajwadi Party should make an announcement to expel him and send him to UP once. We will take care of the rest. A person who, instead of feeling proud of the tradition of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, feels ashamed and glorifies Aurangzeb — should he have the right to live in India? SP should answer this.”
Yogi further accused the SP of hypocrisy, stating, “On one hand, you criticise the Maha Kumbh, and on the other, you glorify a ruler who destroyed temples and trampled India’s faith. How can you not control such an MLA,” adding that the SP must hold him accountable and show the door.
Azmi’s ‘not a cruel leader’ remarks on Aurangzeb triggered fierce backlash, leading to an FIR against him and his suspension from the Maharashtra Assembly. However, Azmi defended himself, claiming he was only quoting historians and had no intention to hurt sentiments.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, however, backed Azmi and opposed his suspension from the Assembly for full budget session.
Taking to X, Yadav wrote, “If suspensions start getting influenced by ideology, then what difference will remain between freedom of expression and slavery? Whether it is our MLAs or MPs, their fearless wisdom is unmatched. If some people think that by ‘suspension’ one can put a rein on the tongue of truth, then this is the childishness of their negative thinking.”
— With inputs from agencies
