New Delhi, Oct. 3: Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath has raised eyebrows by batting for Salman Khan in the row over the ban on Pakistani actors and artistes following last week's surgical strikes.
Salman had spoken out against the ban by the Indian Motion Pictures Association, saying a distinction ought to be made between terrorists and cultural artistes. "We have killed terrorists. Artistes are not terrorists. These are two different subjects," the star was quoted as saying.
Adityanath, who has landed the BJP in trouble with contentious remarks on Mother Teresa, love "jihad" and Shah Rukh Khan, went astonishingly soft on Salman yesterday and endorsed his stand.
"Our fight is against terrorism. It is not against art or cultural programmes," news agencies quoted the yogi as telling the media in Gorakhpur, where he is the custodian of the influential Gorakhpeeth.
Uttar Pradesh BJP general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak welcomed Adityanath's comments. "The Uri killings and the surgical strikes are international matters. Being an MP, Yogiji spoke in a sober and mature manner," he said.
"The party leadership has told all of us to behave with restraint. Like a senior party leader, Yogiji has done that."
Adityanath could not be reached for comment. His aide, Birendra Singh, said: "He is preoccupied with Navratri pujas until late night and will not take calls until morning."
Uttar Pradesh BJP sources, however, had a different take on the yogi. One of them, a legislator, said: "His comments confirm his desire and ambition to aim for the chief minister's post if the BJP is in a position to form the next government in Lucknow. Suddenly, why is he sounding like a statesman?"
Periodically, in the presence of BJP leaders including president Amit Shah, Adityanath's followers have raised slogans that he should be declared chief minister candidate before the Uttar Pradesh polls. So far, the BJP brass has decided against projecting one, fearing that multiple contenders might create problems if one is picked over others.
When Shah was in Gorakhpur in July for a convention of district booth presidents, Adityanath's cheerleaders had repeatedly interrupted his speech with a clamour to name him chief minister candidate.
A peeved Shah had then wondered if he should continue speaking or stop. But as a concession to Adityanath's followers, the BJP chief had said the Gorakhpur MP's name "energised" Uttar Pradesh.
Actress Sonali Bendre has backed the demand to ban Pakistani artistes from working or performing in India, saying it was need of the hour given the current strained ties between the two countries, adds PTI.
Party sources had, however, ruled out his projection as the chief ministerial face, saying his "saffron robes, religious associations and incendiary statements would work against the BJP and consolidate Muslim votes firmly behind the Samajwadi Party or the BSP".
