Abu Azmi, president of the Samajwadi Party in Maharashtra, has hit back at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s “DNA comment”, saying that these are the “same people inciting violence everywhere”. “They are looking for temples under every mosque. Their DNA and the DNA of Bangladeshis may be the same,” he said.
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Maharashtra Samajwadi Party president Abu Azmi said, “They are the ones who are looking for temples under every mosque in Sambhal, Gyanvapi, and Mathura. They are doing injustice despite the 1991 law [Places of Worship Act], which states that religious places will remain as they were in 1947. The same is happening in Bangladesh, their DNA and the DNA of Bangladesh are the same.”
He further said: “Muslims are not engaging in violence; these people are the ones causing it… They are razing Muslim homes with bulldozers.”
Paying tribute to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on his Mahaparinirvana Day, Abu Azmi said, “Babasaheb Ambedkar made the Constitution and gave equality to all. I salute him. It is because of the Constitution that Muslims have respect in this country. Some people want to finish it [Constitution]. I appeal to the citizens and the marginalised people to protect the Constitution.”
Yogi Adityanath’s ‘DNA’ Comment
Yogi Adityanath sparked the ‘DNA’ controversy on Thursday while inaugurating the Ramayana Mela at the Ram Katha Park in Ayodhya. He said, “The DNA of the rioters in Sambhal and those attacking minorities in Bangladesh is the same as Babar’s. Remember what Babar’s men did in Ayodhya Kumbh 500 years ago.”
He said, “The same thing happened in Sambhal and the same thing is happening in Bangladesh. The nature and DNA of all three are the same… those who divide are just waiting for the right time… They have made all arrangements to destroy social unity.”
