Expressing deep disappointment over the Bharatiya Janata Party’s decision to elect their firebrand leader Yogi Adityanath as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Muslim cleric Maulana Mohammad Sajid Rashidi asked how can a man with a history of propagating divisive agenda lead Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development plans for the state.
Speaking to ANI in Delhi, the cleric said, "I am deeply disappointed with BJP's selection and I don’t understand how a man who is charged with attempt to murder, a person who propagates divisive agenda, can be Uttar Pradesh chief minister."
Citing Adityanath's recent hate speeches against Muslims, the cleric further said at least 13 per cent of Muslims voted for the BJP in the state assembly polls believing in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development agenda for Uttar Pradesh, but now they are deeply disappointed with latter's selection.
The BJP named Adityanath as the next Uttar Pradesh chief minister while Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma have been appointed as the deputy chief ministers.
Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said the oath taking ceremony would take place at 2:15 pm on Sunday in Uttar Pradesh in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.
Adityanath, a five-time MP from the Gorakhpur constituency, was the youngest member of the 12th Lok Sabha at the age of 26.
Currently, he serves as the mahant of Guru Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur, following the death of mahanth Aavaidyanath on September 12, 2014.
