Mohammed Ali Jinnaha ‘mahapurush’ says Savitri Bai Phule

BJP MP from Bahraich, Savitri Bai Phule struck a discordant note once again on Friday by saying that Pakistan founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah was a ‘mahapurush’ (great leader)  

Pule, of late, has been vocal against the Modi and Yogi governments. 

She said that Jinnah was a ‘mahapurush’ and the controversy being raked up by Bharatiya Janata Party and other associated outfits was just to divert public attention from more presssing issues like increase in atrocities against members of Dalit community.

“Like other great leaders, Jinnah too played a staler role during the country’s freedom struggle. We should respect all of them. Jinnah, like others, is also a `mahapurush’ because his contribution cannot be dismissed. We should respect the contribution of all these leaders instead of looking at their caste and religion,” Phule told reporters.

Asked if Jinnah was a ‘mahapurush’, she replied, “He was, is, and will always remain a great person. The portrait of such a ‘mahapurush’, wherever it is required, should be set up with respect. Jinnah is respected from the times of freedom struggle. His portrait is installed in the Lok Sabha and his name should be taken with respect,” she stressed.

The statement of BJP MP came after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath supported the growing demand of removing Jinnah’s portrait from Aligarh Muslim University. Yogi has been categorical that leaders who played an instrumental role in dividing India, should not be honoured in free India.

This is not the first time when the BJP MP from Bahraich has criticised the BJP brass. She was also critical of BJP leaders having dinner at Dalit homes during their ‘Gram Swaraj’ campaign.