NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mehboob Ali on Monday spurred controversy after he claimed that the growing Muslim population would push the BJP out of power in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.
Ali, who is Amroha MLA, was speaking at a party event where he claimed that the " demographic shift would favour" the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party.
"The Muslim population has increased to such an extent that by 2027, the BJP will have to go, and the Samajwadi Party will come to power," said the 72-year-old leader, who is a sixth-time MLA.
The leader also drew a parallel between the BJP and the Mughal empire, saying, "If the Mughals, who ruled for over 800 years are no longer around, what makes you think the BJP will last?"
He also called the BJP " anti-Constitution and anti-reservation," according to news agency PTI.
Following his remark, police lodged an FIR against him and the party's district president Sheikh Zakir Hussain. Action was initiated on the complaint of a police sub-inspector.
Police Circle Officer Sangram Singh on Monday told PTI: "Objectionable comments were made in the video of SP leader Mehboob Ali that went viral on Monday. We have registered a case under relevant sections of the law. Further legal action is underway."
According to police, the two SP leaders have been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 196(1) (promoting enmity between different groups) and 353(2) (public mischief).
Sub-Inspector Sanjeev Kumar , in his complaint at the Bijnor police station, alleged that during the event held at a banquet hall on Sunday, Ali made " inflammatory remarks that spread animosity between the Hindu and Muslim communities."
He also said that the SP's district unit president (Hussain) "failed to fulfil his responsibilities during the event, urging that necessary actions be taken against both individuals".
Ali, who is Amroha MLA, was speaking at a party event where he claimed that the " demographic shift would favour" the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party.
"The Muslim population has increased to such an extent that by 2027, the BJP will have to go, and the Samajwadi Party will come to power," said the 72-year-old leader, who is a sixth-time MLA.
The leader also drew a parallel between the BJP and the Mughal empire, saying, "If the Mughals, who ruled for over 800 years are no longer around, what makes you think the BJP will last?"
He also called the BJP " anti-Constitution and anti-reservation," according to news agency PTI.
Following his remark, police lodged an FIR against him and the party's district president Sheikh Zakir Hussain. Action was initiated on the complaint of a police sub-inspector.
Police Circle Officer Sangram Singh on Monday told PTI: "Objectionable comments were made in the video of SP leader Mehboob Ali that went viral on Monday. We have registered a case under relevant sections of the law. Further legal action is underway."
According to police, the two SP leaders have been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 196(1) (promoting enmity between different groups) and 353(2) (public mischief).
Sub-Inspector Sanjeev Kumar , in his complaint at the Bijnor police station, alleged that during the event held at a banquet hall on Sunday, Ali made " inflammatory remarks that spread animosity between the Hindu and Muslim communities."
He also said that the SP's district unit president (Hussain) "failed to fulfil his responsibilities during the event, urging that necessary actions be taken against both individuals".
