After speech targeting Hindus, Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan dubs Batla House terrorists 'martyrs'

Ittihad-e-Millat Council chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan has stoked another controversy. He said those killed in the Batla House encounter should be given the status of martyrs. Khan had recently made a speech targeting Hindus.

He said, "Congress had said to me that they would probe Batla House encounter if their government is formed in 2009. Had there been a probe, the world would have known those killed as terrorists should be given martyr status."

The Congress also came under fire as the Islamic cleric had extended his support to the party in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly Polls.

The BJP slammed the Congress over the issue. Party spokesperson Sambit Patra said and noted the Congress had allied in the past with parties which draw its support from Muslims in states like Kerala, Karnataka and West Bengal and were accused of making communal remarks aimed at the majority community.

Politician and Islamic cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan was earlier booked for derogatory comments against PM Narendra Modi and reportedly issuing threats against the Hindu community.