Yogi Adityanath has made several concerted efforts to change his widely popular perception as a leader of militant Hindutva politics since being made the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.
Soon after assuming office, Adityanath famously drew a parallel between namaaz and surya namaskar, a posture of yoga.
On Tuesday, India marked two significant occasions on the religious calendar. While Hindus celebrated the day as Lord Hanuman Jayanti, for Muslims it was the birth anniversary of Hazrat Ali, one of the four caliphs of Islam.
Adityanath wished Hindus on Lord Hanuman Jayanti, but also posted a tweet wishing Muslims on the birth anniversary of Hazrat Ali.
His tweet said, ” I wish people of Uttar Pradesh on the occasion of Hazrat Ali’s birthday.”
हजरत अली के जन्म दिन पर प्रदेशवासियों को बधाई
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) April 11, 2017
While many appreciated this noticeable change in Adityanath, a large section of his own followers did not condone the act and began to troll him on Twitter.
Some of his followers on Twitter even wondered who Hazrat Ali was. Hazrat Ali was the first cousin and son-in-law of of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He was also one of the four caliphs of Islam after the death of the Prophet (PBUH).
Here are some tweets;
मेरे हनुमान जयंती पर किसी कठमुल्ले ने शुभकामनाएँ दी क्या।
— दयानन्द सिंह चंदेल (@Singhfatwah) April 11, 2017
अब ये हजरत अली कौण है? जन्मदिन मनाना इस्लाम में हराम है ये कुरान में लिखा हुआ है
— डाकू™ (@Chowkidar_Dakoo) April 11, 2017
ये हज़रत अली कौन हे ????
— Hindu Unity (@MinuKalasuva) April 11, 2017
Koi Muslim nay hanuman janmutsav ke badhhai nahee dee???????soocho
— Dr,Avinash (@AvinNagr) April 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/Khushireturns/status/851775979626299393
आपसे निवेदन है कि किसी अली-खां के जन्मदिन या ईद, ताजिया की बधाई जैसा कुछ न बोलें। हिन्दुत्व पर कायम रहें, सत्ता बची रहेगी।'' #I_hate_you
— Anurag Trivedi (@anurag_trivedi1) April 11, 2017
Dekh ke dukh ho raha h ki secular wala rog hamare yogi Ji bhi lag gaya
— Ankit Kumar Mishra (@1Ankit_Aarya1) April 11, 2017