Bhubaneswar, Nov. 29 -- BJP leader and Lok Sabha MP Sambit Patra on Saturday criticised recent statements by Maulana Mahmud Madani, chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, and Akhilesh Yadav, calling them "divisive and misleading."

Patra criticised Madani's statement, which mentioned jihad in the context of opposing oppression, calling it "inflammatory and irresponsible."

"Today, since this morning, some such incidents have occurred in the country, which appear different from each other, but if viewed properly, there are certain forces whose statements are divisive and on the other side, there are some such news items that are unifying for the country. Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind's chief Maulana Madani has given a statement in Bhopal. On the other hand, ...