Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav (File photo)

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, who has earned a lot of adverse publicity for his handling of the Muzaffarnagar riots and the massive humanitarian crisis at refugee camps thereafter, today appeared to endorse child labour.Addressing a gathering of madrasa teachers in Lucknow, Mr Yadav said,That roughly translates to: "No state is home to traditional business on such a large scale - whether it is Lucknow or Bhadohi, Bareilly or Benaras, or Firozabad. There is no one who can beat Muslims in occupations where manual skill is employed. The work done by the children of our Muslim brothers -- the Samajwadi Party will work to provide better facilities for them.''The gaffe is likely to trigger fresh controversy.

Mr Yadav, 40, is already battling the perception of a widening chasm between the Samajwadi Party and the Muslim community, which at a significant 18 per cent of Uttar Pradesh's voter base, played an important part in the party's victory in Assembly elections held two years ago.But many of the over 60 people killed and thousands rendered homeless during the Muzaffarnagar riots last September were Muslims, and the government's handling of the crisis has come in for sharp criticism.