BJP accuses Samajwadi Party of promoting 'love jihad' in UP

At the first day of its two-day state executive meet in the temple town in western Uttar Pradesh, senior party leaders upped their ante against the SP and accused it of not only protecting people behind "love jihad" - a term coined by Hindu groups for alleged efforts by young Muslims reportedly target non-Muslim girls for conversion to Islam by feigning love - but also patronizing them.

BJP's state unite chief Laxmikant Bajpayi accused the SP government of disturbing communal peace and  harmony in the stat in its "blind pursuit" of minority votes. He also exhorted party workers to be prepared to oust the SP government and reclaim power in the state, which under-pinned the party's political success story in the 1990s and now again in 2014.

BJP president Amit Shah, who was scheduled to address the inaugural session of the convention, did not turn up owing to "pressing political engagements" in Delhi and was represented by union minister Kalraj Mishra. 

Terming the SP government as "incompetent and anti-people", Mishra asked workers to spread out in the state and inform people of the work initiated by the Narendra Modi-led central government and work to get back the lost glory of the party in UP. 

"People of UP have shown their faith in us by giving us 71 of the 80 seats in UP and we have not only to repay their trust but also build on it," he told workers.

The BJP's Uttar Pradesh executive is meeting less than three months after the party swept the Lok Sabha election in the state, winning a staggering 71 of the 80 seats. Its ally won two seats.  

Party leaders said the meeting will roll out a roadmap for assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh due in 2017 but which many in the BJP hope will take place earlier.  Amit Shah had, on his first visit as BJP chief to the state, had told workers Aug 19 to be prepared to take over the reins of power in UP.

The party will also undertake a major membership drive across the state from next month where it plans to expand its support base further and consolidate its existing cadres. 

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to address the state executive Sunday.  

Meanwhile, reacting to the BJP's accusations of promoting 'love jihad', SP general secretary Naresh Agarwal trashed the charges and said that in its bid to communally divide the state polity, BJP was finding politics and religion even in an innocent emotion like love.