Tension over demolition of Jan Sangh leader's idol

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday accused Uttar Pradesh Urban Development Minister Azam Khan's supporters of "demolishing" the statue of Jan Sangh leader Deen Dayal Upadhaya in Rampur and threatened to launch a statewide agitation on the issue.

"This is a very serious issue. The BJP rank and file are up in arms across the state and the party condemns this heinous incident," party vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who belongs to the region, said.

Accusing the minister of trying to whip up communal passions in the state, he said the BJP would organise protests across the state on the issue.