Srinagar, Mar 13 (UNI) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday accused Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of fostering communal discord and warned that such policies could have dire consequences for the country.



Mufti was responding to the controversies over Holi celebrations and Friday prayers that coincide on Friday during the Ramadhan.



She even drew a parallel between Adityanath and Pakistan late military ruler Zia-ul-Haq.



“Zia-ul-Haq sahib policies led to deep-rooted religious extremism, a legacy that the neighbouring country is still struggling to undo. A similar poison is being spread here, and its consequences will be disastrous for India," she told reporters in south Kashmir’s Shopian.



The former Chief Minister urged for communal harmony, emphasizing that Holi and the Friday prayers of Muslims should coexist peacefully.



“Holi is a good festival and everybody enjoys it. Let Hindus play Holi and Muslims offer prayers on Friday,” she said.

Mehbooba accused the BJP leadership of this pot between Hindus and Muslims simmering to divert attention from pressing issues such as unemployment and economic distress in UP.



"You can’t provide jobs, you can’t feed the poor, so you create distractions so that Hindus and Muslims fight each other and people don’t ask them about the basic things," she alleged, adding that such a strategy would ultimately harm the nation.

UNI MJR CS