Lucknow: Much to the surprise of one and all, arch-rivals, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath and Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, were seen walking together, holding hands, inside the state assembly premises on Thursday.
It was no less than a shock for many as they saw the rivals exuding bonhomie and sharing laughs, especially considering the two have been at loggerheads lately. “It could be due to the fact that it was the first day of the Assembly’s winter session and this could be followed by fire works from both,” feel analysts adding that it was hard to forget the barbs the two leaders have traded against each other in the past.
It may be recalled that Azam targeted chief minister Yogi Adityanath early this year by asking “if he would offer namaz” when the latter claimed that the prayers offered by Muslims resemble postures of the yogic ‘surya namaskar’.
Not forget that Yogi Adityanath had in 2014 advised Azam to “learn from the Muslims of Gujarat” and become “big-hearted” like them. The then Gorakhpur MP was reacting to a remark by Azam who had alleged that Gujarat Muslims voted for Narendra Modi out of fear and compulsion.