The controversy escalated after UP Minister Swami Prasad Maurya called Jinnah a “great leader”. Now, Gorakhpur MP Nishad has made a controversial statement and said, “The way Nehru and Gandhi contributed to free India, the same way Jinnah also has equal contribution in country’s freedom”.
Nishad further took on BJP and said, “The politics BJP is indulging in over Jinnah is condemnable”. He further added saying, “The nation has been classified and one is being called nationalist on the basis of caste and creed”.
He further said that “The nation belongs equally to Hindus and Muslims. Also, both made a contribution in freeing the country. Ashrafullah Khan also achieved martyrdom along with Bhagat Singh”.
He also stated that the classification is being done keeping the 2019 elections in mind so that the party receives political benefits.
The controversy began after BJP MP has asked Aligarh Muslim University to explain why it displays a portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, triggering a row days after a student sought permission to hold an RSS shakha on its premises.
In a letter written to Vice Chancellor Tariq Mansoor yesterday, Aligarh MP Satish Gautam objected to the Pakistan founder's picture on the walls of the AMU student union office.
AMU spokesman Shafey Kidwai later defended the portrait, apparently hanging there for decades, saying that Jinnah was a founder member of the University Court and granted life membership of the student union.