The Asian Age

Modi trying to appease Muslims’

Akhilesh says BJP will not be able to digest 2019 outcome

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Lucknow, June 4: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his Indonesia and Malaysia visits during the month of Ramzan asking whether the tour was aimed at “internatio­nal appeasemen­t” of the minority community, a comment promptly trashed by the BJP.

Speaking to PTI, Mr Yadav also claimed that people of not just Uttar Pradesh but the entire country were upset with the BJP which apart from making promises had done “nothing else”.

“Bhookhe pet na hot Bhajan Gopala ( even prayers to the Lord can’t be sung on an empty stomach),” the former chief minister said taking another dig on the saffron party to press home his point that issues of hunger were often more important to people than even religious matters.

Mr Yadav said the people had realised that the BJP does not mean business. “The BJP should learn to face defeats or else they will be not be able to digest the outcome of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in which the opposition will stage a comeback,” he claimed.

Attacking the BJP, which has often accused SP of playing politics of minority appeasemen­t, the Samajwadi Party chief said, “Chief minister Yogi Adityanath says he does not celebrate Eid as he is a Hindu. The BJP charges us with practising Muslim appeasemen­t. Mr Modi has just visited Indonesia and Malaysia during the month of Ramzan. Is it an attempt towards internatio­nal appeasemen­t of the Muslims?” However, the former chief minister’s jibe soon attracted a sharp retort from the BJP.

“A person who could not save his government in the state cannot understand internatio­nal policies and politics,” BJP spokespers­on Shalabh Mani Tripathi said.

It is because of Prime Minister Modi that our country is being recognised as a vishwa guru ( world leader), Mr Tripathi added.

“While a temple is ( being) constructe­d in Dubai, Pakistan is being side- lined at the internatio­nal level, because of our PM,” he said.

Mr Tripathi advised the SP chief to “widen his thoughts” for better understand­ing of internatio­nal politics. “He should shun his narrow thoughts... Rather he should widen his thoughts so that he understand­s internatio­nal politics better,” he said. The image of our country has got a boost in the Modi regime and, the BJP spokespers­on remarked.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was for the first time on an official visit to Indonesia — the world's most populous Muslim- majority nation — last month.

Modi visited Indonesia and Malaysia during Ramzan. Is this an attempt towards internatio­nal Muslim appeasemen­t. — Akhilesh

Yadav,

Former UP CM

 ?? — PTI ?? Former UP chief minister and Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav cycles on Gomti river front in Lucknow on Monday.
— PTI Former UP chief minister and Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav cycles on Gomti river front in Lucknow on Monday.

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