No agenda, no space for such people: Yogi on Owaisi's 'Abdul will win in UP' remark

Yogi Adityanath's attack came after Owaisi invoked Abdul El-Sayed's Michigan Senate victory, saying Muslims in Uttar Pradesh should build their own political identity instead of backing other parties.No agenda, no space for such people: Yogi on Owaisi's 'Abdul will win in UP' remark. (Source: ITG)Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday took a swipe at AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi over his remark that Muslims in the state should strengthen their political identity, saying people who have no agenda have no place in Uttar Pradesh.Speaking at the AajTak Panchayat event with host Sweta Singh, Senior Managing Editor, Aaj Tak, Yogi criticised Owaisi's remarks about an 'Abdul' emerging as a political leader in Uttar Pradesh, apparently referring to his comments invoking the election victory of Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan Senate race in the United States.Owaisi had said that Muslims in Uttar Pradesh should stop merely spreading the carpet for other political parties and instead build their own political identity. Citing El-Sayed's victory, he said the "Abdul" of Uttar Pradesh would no longer bow before anyone but would emerge as an MLA.The AIMIM chief had also pointed out that while the BJP earlier used to mock Muslims by saying that Abdul fixes punctures, a Muslim had now become a senator in a democratic election in the US.Owaisi has been addressing public meetings in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh in recent weeks, seeking to strengthen his party's political presence in the state. His remarks drew reactions from the Congress and the Samajwadi Party as well. Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput said the election victories of Indians abroad, irrespective of their names or religious identities, should be a matter of pride.Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ashutosh Verma welcomed El-Sayed's victory but pointed out that he was of Egyptian origin and had contested as a Democratic Party candidate. He said the victory reflected a global shift away from communal and far-right politics. The remarks come amid political activity ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, with Owaisi seeking to position the AIMIM as a political alternative for Muslims in the state.This is a developing story. It will be updated.- Ends