'Both Ali and Bajrangbali are with us': Mayawati takes dig at Yogi Adityanath

BSP chief Mayawati on Saturday took a dig at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his "Ali" and "Bajrangbali" remarks, saying that both were with them and that the latter had "invented" the caste of Lord Hanuman.

"Both Ali and Bajrangbali are with us. Bajrangbali also because he is related to our caste. His (Lord Hanuman) has not been invented by me, but the UP chief minister," Mayawati said while addressing a rally in UP's Budaun.   

On Thursday, the Election Commission had issued a show-cause notice to Yogi for his "Ali" and "Bajrangbali" remarks while addressing a rally in Meerut. Finding him prima facie guilty of violating the model code of conduct, the commission asked him to respond by Friday evening.

Adityanath had compared the Lok Sabha elections to a contest between 'Ali', a revered figure in Islam, and Bajrangbali, the Hindu god Hanuman.

"Agar Congress, SP, BSP ko 'Ali' par vishwaas hai toh humein bhi 'Bajrangbali' par vishwaas hai (If the Congress, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party have faith in Ali, we have faith in Hanuman)," the UP CM had said.

His statement came while referring to BSP chief Mayawati's speech at a rally in Deoband, where she urged Muslims to back the alliance.