BJP Lok Sabha member Savitirbai Phule on Friday termed Muhammad Ali Jinnah a "great person" and opposed the demand for removal of his portrait from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), causing huge embarrassment to the saffron party.

Stating that Jinnah had contributed to the freedom of the country, Phule said that his pictures should be put up at all those places where there were pictures of other freedom fighters.

"Jinnah had also fought for the freedom of the country... he must be given equal respect," Phule said while speaking to reporters in Baharaich, about 200 km from here.

Virtually putting her own government in an embarrassing situation, she alleged that the issue of Jinnah was being raised "to divert attention" of people from real issues like poverty, unemployment and persecution of Dalits.

She supported Uttar Pradesh minister and BJP's alliance partner Om Prakash Rajbhar's remarks that ministers and public representatives hailing from lower castes were not accorded due protocol by officials.

Taking strong exception, Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Kehsav Prasad Maurya said Phule's statement was not in accordance with the party line.

BJP sources said the party had taken a serious view of her remarks.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said that Jinnah could not be termed a great person.