SP leader ST Hasan blames ‘bulldozer action' for Uttarakhand floods, BJP lashes out for 'communalising' tragedy

Quick to react, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday lashed out at Hasan for calling it “divine justice" as other religions were not being respected in the state.

In a bizarre statement, Samajwadi Party MP ST Hasan has created a controversy with his remarks linking flash floods in Uttarakhand to the bulldozer action against religious sites in the state. The SP leader's remark came in response to the couldburst in Uttarakashi, which left five people dead.

Quick to react, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday lashed out at Hasan, calling it “divine justice" as other religions were not being respected in the state.

The BJP launched a scathing criticism of Hasan’s remarks, calling them divisive, baseless, and politically-motivated. “What a Disgrace! Former SP MP ST Hasan communalises a natural tragedy — insults Hindus & downplays the suffering of Uttarkashi’s Dharali villagers after the cloudburst. For Samajwadi Party, even death & disaster are filtered through Hindu–Muslim lenses," said BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari.

Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also condemned the remark. “While the people of the nation are praying for the well-being of those affected, some are busy offering curses. They are giving absurd arguments like, this disaster happened because of one reason or another. What is happening in Palestine? What is happening in Iraq? Why are you giving such illogical arguments?"

Hasan drew a parallel to the natural calamity in Uttarakhand to the bulldozer action on religious structures. He also pointed out to deforestation and damage to the ecosystem, leading to the disaster.

Even after receiving backlash, Hasan has stood by his remarks. “It is not just cloud bursts. There are other natural calamities occurring. The reason for this is that our ecosystem has been badly damaged. Our forests are being cut down indiscriminately. Secondly, we all believe in our creator, whether we are Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian...The places where the Almighty is worshipped, whether it is a mosque, dargah or temple, bulldozers should not be run on them. You may get them vacated, but let them remain standing,” he told ANI.