Even as the world condemns the shocking attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical newspaper, one BSP leader, Haji Yakoob Qureshi, has praised the attackers and said he was ready to pay them Rs 51 crore

Even as the world condemns the shocking attack on the offices of French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, one BSP leader, Haji Yakoob Qureshi, has praised the attackers and said he was ready to pay them Rs 51 crore, which he had previously announced as a reward for the killing of Danish cartoonists who had depicted the prophet.

Qureshi had in 2006, offered the sum of money to anyone who would kill the cartoonists of Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten after it published an editorial in September 2005 that included 12 different cartoons portraying the Prophet. (Read more here)

Rasul ke ashiq unhe saja de dete hai (followers of Prophet punish them),” the former Uttar Pradesh minister was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.

He had also said that anyone who disrespected the Prophet Mohammed deserves death and told journalists that he was ready to give the Rs 51 crore to the attackers, if they were to ask for it.

“I am ready to pay the money if they come and demand the declared reward", HT quoted him as saying.

He also threatened the same consequences to anyone who will show disrespect for Prophet Mohammed, according to a report in DNA.

There has been no reaction to Querishi's comments so far, but the Uttar Pradesh police have reportedly said that they would take action after examining his statement in full. The BSP has not made a statement thus far.