Patna: RJD MLA Haji Abdus Subhan kicked off a political storm by calling international terrorist and Jaish–e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar as “Masood Azhar sahab” during a political rally in Kishanganj.

While addressing the public meeting Abdus Subhan said that “why Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not saying anything against China for not declaring Masood Azhar “Sahab” as an international terrorist. He has been speaking against Pakistan which has a population of just 22 crores which is less then UP. It won’t take even an hour to destroy Pakistan”.

Tejashwi Yadav was in Kishanganj to address a political rally on Saturday when party MLA Haji Abdus Subhan gave the statement during his speech. RJD leaders, however, defended Tejashwi Yadav and the MLA saying that it was “a satire” but the NDA reacted on the issue.

RJD leaders in Patna said that “there is nothing to speak on the issue. The NDA is trying to twist the statement in order gain in the Lok Sabha elections”.

JD(U) spokesperson Ajay Alok termed the statement as an attempt to appease minority voters ahead of general elections. He said that “the Opposition is in the habit of giving a statement which weakens the morale of armed forces. The statement could be an attempt to influence voters to gain in the elections”.

When asked about his reaction on the issue, Union minister and BJP’s nominee from Patna Sahib constituency Ravi Shankar Prasad: “They (the Congress and RJD) keep giving such statements. Wait and see what happens next”.

NDA leaders in Patna also pointed out that Congress chief Rahul Gandhi had made a similar statement during an event in Assam earlier this month. Reports suggest that the BJP-led NDA may use the statements as an agenda against the Mahagathbandhan during election campaigns.