Muslims would prefer 'kabristan' than Pakistan, says Azam Khan

Lucknow, Nov 23: Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan on Monday waded into the controversy surrounding Assam Governor P B Acharya's comments, saying Muslims would prefer 'kabristan' than Pakistan and suggested that he can go to Nepal, if he has any problem in staying with the minority community.

"We prefer kabristan (graveyard) instead of going to Pakistan. Arrange kabristan for us, we will not go to Pakistan. And if the governor has any problem in staying with us, he can go to Nepal. For him doors of Nepal cannot be closed," he told reporters.

His remarks came against the backdrop of Acharya's statement, which stoked controversy on Sunday when he said that Indian Muslims are free to go anywhere, including Pakistan and Bangladesh.

"There are a handful of people, who are trying to create a civil war in the country. They should decide their path. Whom should they complain against governor? The president has all information...," he asked.

"All these things are insult to the Constitution. Whatever happened in 1992 was also against Constitution. The mosque was demolished there (Ayodhya), now it is not there. Ram temple is there. Repeating the same thing is an attempt to vitiate atmosphere," he claimed.

"It appears that there is no Constitution in the country. And if it is there attempts are on to finish it," Khan alleged.

Attacking BJP and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's "push for construction of the Ram temple", he claimed that they had tried things like 'love jihad' and others but failed and so they are now trying to incite feelings of Hindu with controversial statements.

PTI