Meerut, April 10: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath is once again into controversy after dubbing that the Muslim league as "green virus" and suggesting that the Hindu and Muslim voters are in an “Ali-Bajrang Bali” contest. The UP CM said that the opposition had faith in 'Ali' and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had faith in 'Bajrang Bali'. He also accused Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Congress of spreading the green virus in the country.

In a counter attack to BSP chief Mayawati's statement cautioning Muslims against split of votes, Adityanath said, "Agar Congress, SP, BSP ko Ali par vishwaas hai, toh humein bhi Bajrang Bali par vishwaas hai (If the Congress, the SP and the BSP have faith in Ali, then we too have faith in Bajrang Bali)." Yogi Adityanath on Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati Rally in Deoband: UP CM Says 'BSP Will End Up With Zero Seats' After 2019 Lok Sabha Elections.

"These are the people who, with the green virus Muslim League, are plotting against the nation. Both Akhilesh and Mayawati are playing the Muslim card. Hindus have no other choice than the Bharatiya Janata Party. Mayawati urges Muslims to vote for the coalition and not to split their vote. Now the Hindus have no option but to vote for the BJP. If the Congress, the SP and the BSP have faith in Ali, then we too have faith in Bajrang Bali. The opposition has acknowledged that the followers of Bajrang Bali will not vote for them,” he said.

The Ali-Bajrang Bali formulation was also used last year by Adityanath during assembly elections in five states. That time, he attacked Congress leader Kamal Nath by saying that 90 per cent of Muslim voters needed Congress to win in the state. Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha Elections 2019 Schedule: Constituency Wise Dates Of Voting And Results For UP General Elections.

Addressing back to back rallies in Uttar Pradesh, UP CM said that only BJP can construct the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Adityanath had waded into controversy last week after calling armed forces as "Modiji ki Sena", prompting the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ask him "to be care" in his utterances.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 10, 2019 10:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).