Samajwadi Party MLA Ziaur Rahman Barq equated the BJP to British and said one's loyalty towards the country cannot be proven just by waiving the tricolour.
A video of the MLA trading barbs at the BJP during an interaction with press a couple of days ago has surfaced on social media.
"Earlier, the British government used to rule us. Now, it is ruled by those people who have nothing to with the freedom struggle. When India was fighting for Independence and scores of people, including Muslims, were put behind the bars, nobody from the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh) participated in the struggle," the MLA from Kundarki in Moradabad district is heard saying in Hindi in the video.
Mr Barq, who is related to senior SP leader and MLA from Sambhal Shafiqur Rahman Barq, said, "One's loyality towards the nation cannot be proven by waiving the national flag and Muslims of the country don't need any certificate to prove their loyalty towards the country." The tricolour has never been hoisted at the RSS headquarters, he claimed.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
RSS-Linked Books Mandated In Madhya Pradesh Colleges, Opposition Sees Red BJP Sweeps Panchayat Elections In Tripura Man Held For Rape Attempt In UP, BJP Claims He's Linked To Samajwadi Party Life On Earth Originates From One Ancestor, Older Than Previously Believed Villagers Try To Drive Away Elephant With Spiked Rods, Fireballs. It Dies Send Reports Every 2 Hours: Centre To States On Kolkata Horror Protests Bengal Health Department Cancels Transfer Order Of 42 Doctors Amid Protests "Illusion": Hamas Official Dismisses US Optimism Over Gaza Ceasefire Talks 2 Killed In West Bank Strike, Israel Says It Targeted "Terrorist Cell'' Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.