India, Oct. 20 -- Politics refused to take a break as parties indulged in heated exchange over diyas and celebrations in Ayodhya

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav sparked controversy after questioning the government's repeated spending on diyas and candles during Diwali. In what appeared to be a veiled criticism of the Uttar Pradesh government's grand Deepotsav celebrations, Yadav compared them to Christmas festivities abroad.

In comments seen as a dig at the Yogi Adityanath led-BJP government, Yadav was quoted as saying, "I don't want to offer suggestions, but in the name of Lord Ram, I will say that during Christmas, cities around the world remain lit for months. We should learn from tha...