BJP slams Azam Khan for comparing protest to terror attack

Lucknow, July 1 (IANS) The BJP Tuesday condemned a statement by Uttar Pradesh Urban Development Minister Azam Khan in which he likened a protest by the party’s youth wing to a "terrorist attack".

Slamming the Samajwadi Party leader for his comment, state Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Vjay Bahadur Pathak said the remark was not only unfortunate but also completely misplaced.

The protest took place in front of the state assembly Monday.

"To say that our workers were armed with petrol bombs and weapons is provocative, slanderous and a blatant lie," Pathak told IANS, daring the minister to prove his charges.

The state government has completely failed to control the recent spurt in crime and check the failing law and order situation, he said.

On the other hand, it was targeting its political adversaries, Pathak said.

"The minister said our workers were armed with illegal weapons, petrol bombs, acid bottles… I would like to know on behalf of the BJP how many of these have been recovered by police," the BJP leader asked.