Jammu and Kashmir BJP leader threatens to quit party, cites UP CM’s ‘inflammatory rhetoric’

Jammu and Kashmir Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jahanzaib Sirwal on Friday threatened to resign from the party, objecting to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath’s “unacceptable” remarks about the controversy around “I love Muhammad” posters, PTI reported.

Sirwal alleged that the Uttar Pradesh Police had a “vindictive” attitude against Muslims. He said that the situation in the state “goes against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas (Support of all, development of all, trust of all).”

An impartial inquiry must hold all wrongdoers to account, and not just one community, PTI quoted him as saying.

Sirwal objected to remarks Adityanath had made last week about carrying out “denting and painting” of those allegedly involved in violence and making them pay a price “that future generations will remember”.

Adityanath had made the assertions in the context of violence that broke out in Bareilly on September 26 when a crowd carrying “I love Muhammad” posters clashed with the police outside a mosque.

The police have arrested 72 persons in connection with the clashes in Bareilly, The Times of India reported.

Commenting on the developments, Sirwal said that while he is a committed leader of the BJP, he was deeply pained by the recent actions of the Uttar Pradesh government.

“What was a simple, heartfelt act of faith has been met with FIRs, detentions and inflammatory...

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