New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath termed SP leader Akhilesh Yadav statement of comparing Indian freedom fighter with Mohammad Ali Jinnah was shameful.

Former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav compared Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan with Indian freedom icons, Mahathma Gandhi , Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel.

"Sardar Patel, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Jinnah studied at the same institute and became barristers. They became barristers and they fought for India's freedom. They never backed away from any struggle," said the Samajwadi Party chief, addressing a public function at Hardoi.

Mr. Yadav came down heavily on RSS, BJP’s ideological mentor for ‘dividing’ the society on communal lines.

"It was Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who imposed a ban on an ideology. Today the same people who talk about uniting the country are trying to divide us on the basis of religion and caste," he said, adding that Sardar Patel understood the ground realities and took decisions accordingly to ban RSS.

He further mentioned Jinnah, he also echoed the ideology of Gandhi and Sardar Patel, his comment has condemned by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called it "shameful".

"The Samajwadi Party chief yesterday compared Jinnah to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. This is shameful. It's the Talibani mentality that believes in dividing. Sardar Patel united the country. Currently, under the leadership of PM (Prime Minister Narendra Modi), work is underway to achieve 'Ek Bharat, Shresth Bharat (One India, Best India)," Yogi Adityanath said today, ANI reported.