Lucknow, March 6 -- A political storm has erupted in Uttar Pradesh after Maharashtra Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi praised Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, drawing sharp reactions from the ruling BJP.

During the final day of the Budget session in the Vidhan Parishad on Wednesday, chief minister Yogi Adityanath slammed the Samajwadi Party for its silence on the remarks and demanded Azmi's (without naming him) immediate suspension from the party.

Targeting the SP, Yogi remarked, "Send him to UP; we know how to deal with such people. It won't take us long."

The controversy erupted after Azmi referred to Aurangzeb as a "great administrator". Reacting sharply, Adityanath accused the SP of not respecting India's cultural heritage and deviating from ...