Reacting to the ongoing controversy with regards to Holi and Friday prayers during Ramzan, Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati accused the ruling party of misusing the official machinery for political purposes.

Taking to X on Tuesday, Mayawati took a strong exception to the statement of Sambhal Circle Officer Anuj Chaudhary.

“As it is known that Ramzan is going on at this time and the Holi is also round the corner, keeping this in mind, all the state governments in the whole country, including UP, should turn it into mutual brotherhood, then it will be in the interest of all,” she wrote.

The BSP chief further remarked, “It is not right to do politics under the guise of any issue. It is very important to take equal care of the honour and respect of the followers of all religions. It is not right to misuse officers like Sambhal and they should pay special attention to law and order.”

Recently, Sambhal CO Anuj Chaudhary had said that “Friday comes 52 times a year and Holi comes only one day. If someone has a problem with colours, then do not come out of the house.”

There was a lot of political uproar over his statement. Apart from this, controversy had also arisen over not allowing Holi to be celebrated at Aligarh Muslim University.

After this, the university administration had to change its decision. There was a lot of politics and verbal attacks on both these issues.

On one hand, while SP strongly criticised the Sambhal CO’s statement, on the other hand, BJP and the Yogi government, including the chief minister, supported the police officer’s statement.