india

Updated: Apr 05, 2019 23:33 IST

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday dubbed the Muslim League a virus and claimed the Congress was affected by it, prompting the opposition party to retort that it was he who was a virus that would be eradicated in the election. The tit-for-tat verbal duel was sparked with a tweet from Adityanath a day after Congress chief Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination from Wayanad.

“Muslim League is a virus. If someone is affected by this virus, he cannot survive and today Congress is affected by it. Think, if they win what will happen? This virus will spread in the entire nation,” Adityanath said on Twitter. The chief minister was apparently referring to the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which is a long-time member of the Congress-led United Democratic Front in Kerala, equating it with the pre-Partition Muslim League. “In 1857, entire country fought against Britishers with Mangal Pandey, then this Muslim League virus came and spread in such a way that the country was divided. The same threat is looming over the country again. Green flags are once again furled. Congress is suffering from Muslim league virus, remain alert,” Adityanath said.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala called the chief minister “bhogi” (hedonistic) and said the remarks were “completely intemperate”.

IUML Lok Sabha member PK Kunhalikutty said, “his knowledge is poor and very soon this statement will return to haunt him. IUML is a secular party and Yogi should not forget that there are ‘green flags’ within the BJP-led NDA also.”