"Read Books Again," says Akhilesh Yadav, in response to Jinnah's remark.

 "Read Books Again," says Akhilesh Yadav, in response to Jinnah's remark:

With the Uttar Pradesh elections just months away, Akhilesh Yadav's remark about Pakistan's founder, Muhammed Ali Jinnah, has sparked a tremendous political debate.

New Delhi: Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party, has doubled down on his views about Pakistan's founder Muhammed Ali Jinnah, just days after the BJP chastised him for lumping Mr Jinnah and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel into the same category. Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, described the remarks as emanating from a man with a "Talibani worldview."

Mr Yadav praised the country's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Sardar Patel on his 146th birthday during an election campaign in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, on October 31. "Sardar Patel, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Jinnah all studied at the same institute and went on to become barristers," he continued.

The remark on Pakistan's founder sparked a big political storm, with the BJP leadership and AIMIM chairman Asaduddin Owaisi criticising the Samajwadi Party chief months before the UP elections.

When reporters asked Mr Yadav about the incident today at an event, he answered, "Why am I mentioning the context? I would recommend that you reread the books."

Swatantra Dev Singh, the UP BJP head, retweeted in Hindi, "His comment got a sharp response from Swatantra Dev Singh, who tweeted in Hindi, "His comment drew a quick response from Swatantra "Jinnah's love for him hasn't waned. Please, Akhilesh Yadav ji, tell us if we should read Indian or Pakistani history books."

Mr Singh had previously stated that praising Mr Jinnah would be costly to the Samajwadi Party chairman, as the people still views him as a "villain."

The BJP has often accused the Samajwadi Party, which has Muslim and Yadav support, of appeasing Muslims. Mulayam Singh Yadav, the party's leader, was called "Maulana Mulayam" at one point.

Jaswant Singh was previously expelled from the BJP for reportedly glorifying Pakistan's founder in a book. The BJP was particularly irritated by LK Advani's admiration for Mr Jinnah during his 2005 visit to Pakistan.