JDU backs Venkaiah Naidu in slamming Ansari's 'political propaganda' remark

After vice-president elect M. Venkaiah Naidu hit back at outgoing vice-president Hamid Ansari's statement by calling it "political propaganda," the Janata Dal (United) (JDU) on Friday came out in support of the former.

Speaking to ANI, JDU leader Tyagi said, "Ansari's statement has hurt the sentiments of the people. Dignitaries like Ansari should be careful in choosing words. Also, what Naidu has said is true- saying that this was nothing but a 'political propaganda' is absolutely correct."

Echoing similar views, another JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan stated that Ansari's statement can create a sense of insecurity among minorities.

"Ansari's statement has created a sense of insecurity among minorities. This can surely create a divide in the nation by singling out one community. People like Ansari shoud be careful with playing of words," he said.

Yesterday, Naidu took on Ansari over his remarks that there was unease and a sense of insecurity among minorities across the country.

Naidu clearly dismissed the view, saying that this was nothing but a "political propaganda." While speaking to the media, Naidu said, "Some people are saying the minorities are insecure. It is a political propaganda."

Naidu also cautioned against creating a divide in the nation by singling out one community. "If you single out one community, other communities will take it otherwise. That is why we say all are equal. Appeasement for none, and justice for all," Naidu remarked.

In his last interview on Wednesday, Ansari said that the Muslims in the country were experiencing a "feeling of unease."

"A sense of insecurity is creeping in as a result of the dominant mood created by some and the resultant intolerance and vigilantism," Ansari said, in an interview to Rajya Sabha TV.

Ansari referred to incidents of lynching and alleged killings as a "breakdown of Indian values, breakdown of the ability of the authorities at different levels in different places to be able to enforce what should be normal law enforcing work and over all the very fact that Indianness of any citizen being questioned is a disturbing thought."

Ansari has been in the firing line of the other BJP leaders for his 'Muslim comments'.