The row started when Sambhal police officer earlier stated that "Holi is a festival that comes once a year, whereas Friday prayers take place 52 times a year," while also suggesting people who have an issue with Holi colours should stay at home.
People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti addressed the controversies over Holi celebrations and Friday prayers coinciding on Friday during Ramzan and accused several the leaders including Yogi Adityanath of pitting Hindus and Muslims against each other and said that it will have 'dangerous consequences' for the country.
The row started when Sambhal police officer earlier stated that "Holi is a festival that comes once a year, whereas Friday prayers take place 52 times a year," while also suggesting people who have an issue with Holi colours should stay at home.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also agreed to the police officer's remark and further put the controversy under spotlight. Since there BJP leaders in UP and Bihar have made similar comments suggesting Muslims to 'stay indoors' while Opposition leaders have condemned them.
Bihar's Darbhanga Mayor Anjum Ara stated that "Holi and Ramzan have been celebrated many times before and have been celebrated peacefully in the district."
Mehbooba Mufti was in the Shopian district of south Kashmir and told reporters, "The atmosphere across the country is being vitiated. Earlier Holi was celebrated together by Hindus and Muslims like Eid,"
The PDP president alleged that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has "vitiated the atmosphere" in the state.
"The attitude towards Muslim is totally wrong. Hindus and Muslims in the country used to live happily but these people are spreading poison," she said.
Mufti said the consequences of vitiating the atmosphere would be dangerous.
"Pakistan's former president Zia ul Haq had created a similar atmosphere in the country and it (Pakistan) is yet to overcome that. They are sowing the same poison here and its consequences will be dangerous for the country in the times to come," she added.
Mufti expressed the hope that better sense prevails.
"I pray to God that good sense prevails and they do not pit Hindus and Muslims against each other. Holi is a good festival and everybody enjoys it. Let Hindus play Holi and Muslims offer prayers on Friday," she said.
The former chief minister of the erstwhile state of J-K accused the BJP leadership of "trying to keep the pot simmering as they cannot give anything to the people in UP".
"They want to make them happy by unleashing atrocities on the Muslim community," she added.