UP Election 2022 | Go read books on Jinnah: Akhilesh defiant, BJP asks whether to read India or Pak books

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday sought to defend his Muhammad Ali Jinnah remark as he hit out at his detractors, asking them to read history books again.

On Sunday, Yadav courted controversy when he named Jinnah, along with Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Mahatma Gandhi, saying they had helped India achieve independence and never shied away from any struggle. He had also said the three leaders studied at the same institute for their barristership.

Asked by reporters here on Saturday at the inauguration of the office of ally Janvadi Party Socialist about that row, Yadav shot back, "Why should I say the context? I would say read the books again." His comments drew a sharp response from Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh, who in a Hindi tweet said, "The love for Jinnah still remains intact. Akhilesh Yadav ji please tell which history books have to be read -- the Indian or the Pakistani." Singh had earlier said that glorifying Jinnah will prove costly to Yadav, as the country still considers Jinnah a "villain".

On Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s comment that he is ready to contest polls from anywhere in the state, the SP chief said he should not do so as he is going out of power.

"Now, 'Baba Mukhyamantri' should not contest the elections. He is going (out). Now, what has to be done with a person who is going out," he said.

Asked whether he will be contesting the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Yadav said the decision is for the party to make but indicated he is not averse to the idea.

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"When we are in the election arena, then how can we move back?" He added that if he answers the question, the next question will be "which constituency?" Asked the purpose of a recent meeting between Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and RLD's Jayant Chaudhary at the Lucknow airport, Yadav downplayed the matter saying there was nothing more to it than bumping into someone at a restaurant.

The SP leader chose to sidestep the question of any possible poll alliance between his party and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD).

"Why should I tell? You are a friend, but the problem is that through you, the BJP will come to know about it. For this very reason, it has not been disclosed now," he said.