Samajwadi Party leader Ateeq Ahmed on Saturday called riot victims languishing in the relief camps in Uttar Pradesh as professional beggars.
No, affected victims have been provided with relief. They have been given rupees 15 lakh and provided with jobs. But, the people being seen in the camps repeatedly are professional beggars who have settled themselves there," said Ahmed.
However, Ahmed's remarks evoked strong criticism from other politicians.
A former leader of Samajwadi Party, Shahid Siddiqui said leaders like Ateeq Ahmed make such remarks only to please party leaders.
"It is not Ateeq Ahmed who has made the remark. This is Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP chief) and Shivpal Yadav (SP member) speaking; and just to please them Samajwadi Party leaders make such remarks. Ateeq Ahmed has called the riot-affected victims of Muzaffarnagar as professional beggars. I completely condemn his remark," said Siddiqui in New Delhi.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Vinay Katyar also condemned Ahmed's remark.
"What Ateeq said doesn't matter as he is not a big leader. What he said is condemnable and is wrong," said Katyar in New Delhi.
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