Rajbhar should focus on his party: Maurya

LUCKNOW : Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Sunday advised his cabinet colleague and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) Om Prakash Rajbhar to concentrate on his party rather than questioning the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Despite the SBSP being an alliance partner of the BJP, Rajbhar is often in the news for attacking the state government.

Rajbhar stoked a new controversy on Saturday by suggesting that the BJP should change the names of its Muslim leaders Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Shahnawaz Hussain and Mohsin Raza.

Rajbhar’s statement was in context of the Yogi government’s decision to change the names of Allahabad and Faizabad districts. Commenting on Rajbhar’s statement, Maurya said: “The BJP is the world’s biggest party. Rajbhar should be concerned about expansion of his own party and not about the BJP’s ideology. He must not question the BJP’s decisions. This is wrong. We cannot accept this (such statements).”

Maurya made the statement on the sidelines of an event on breast cancer at the Indira Gandhi Prathisthan where he was the chief guest.

About the Congress promising to ban RSS shakhas in government buildings and premises in MP, he said: “The people of MP will give a befitting reply to the Congress (in the polls).”

Commenting on the proposed conclave of saints in Ayodhya on November 25 in connection with Ram temple, he said, “Who can stop saints from organising such events?” About Ram temple in Ayodhya, he said: “A magnificent temple will be constructed in Ayodhya. But till the matter is pending in court, we cannot say anything.” “But I want to make it clear that not a single stone will be laid in Ayodhya in the name of Babur,” he said. On Centre bringing an ordinance or a framing law for Ram temple, he said: “When two options, become futile then the third option will be framing of law.” Maurya, however, did not specify the two other options.