Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP Javed Ali Khan ignited a sharp political controversy on 15 June after claiming that the Bharatiya Janata Party's politics had poisoned communal relations in India, prompting swift and fierce condemnation from BJP leaders and even a rebuke from a Congress lawmaker. The remarks, made during a visit to Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, have reignited debate over political rhetoric and community relations ahead of future electoral contests in the state.

What Khan Said

Addressing reporters in Moradabad, Khan alleged that the BJP's political narrative had fundamentally altered the social fabric of the country. 'The poison spread by the BJP has been consumed by a large section of the majority community, and it has become poisonous,' he said.

Khan was careful to add that he was not levelling personal allegations against any individual. He elaborated on the Samajwadi Party's outreach strategy, saying the party planned to expand its presence beyond its traditional strongholds. 'At places like Sambhal, we do not face much difficulty in explaining our views to the people because, since the time of Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party has had a strong support base there. However, we will also reach out to areas where the minority and Muslim population is smaller and where the Hindu majority is larger,' he said. 'I am not making an allegation, but I feel that the BJP has created an atmosphere in Uttar Pradesh and across the country that has weakened the mutual trust that once existed among people.'

BJP's Sharp Rebuttal

The BJP moved quickly to condemn the remarks as divisive. BJP MP Jagdambika Pal said: 'This is a matter that requires serious attention. If someone is calling the majority society of the country 'poison', then it is they who are trying to spread poison and create division. Even now, they are not learning any lessons. Mamata Banerjee used to use similar language, and today her party is facing serious challenges in West Bengal. I believe that in the coming days, people in Uttar Pradesh will also teach a lesson to those making such statements, whether it is AIMIM, the Samajwadi Party or others using this kind of rhetoric.'

Union Minister Giriraj Singh went further, linking the remarks directly to SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. 'Whether it is Javed Ali or Akhilesh Yadav, their statement that Hindus have become 'poisonous' is wrong. Hindus are seen as 'poisonous' only by those who have become extremists or are anti-national,' Singh said. He demanded that Yadav publicly clarify whether he endorsed the statement, warning that silence would carry its own political cost.

Uttar Pradesh Minister Yogendra Upadhyay added: 'Those who have poison within them will spit poison, and those who have nectar within them will spread nectar.'

Congress Distances Itself

Notably, the criticism was not confined to the BJP. Congress MP Imran Masood also took issue with Khan's choice of words. 'This is very wrong terminology. If the majority community were not secular in large numbers, the very social fabric of the country would be disturbed. You cannot make such a statement because of the actions of a few people. It is wrong,' Masood said — a rare instance of cross-party rebuke that underscored how broadly the remarks landed.

Context and Political Stakes

The controversy comes as the Samajwadi Party seeks to broaden its electoral base in Uttar Pradesh beyond minority-concentrated districts. Khan's remarks about outreach to Hindu-majority areas were intended to signal an inclusive strategy, but the phrasing overshadowed the message. This is not the first time SP leaders have faced accusations of polarising language; critics argue such rhetoric makes the party's stated goal of social unity harder to sustain. With assembly elections on the horizon, the episode gives the BJP fresh ammunition to frame the SP as a party that views the Hindu majority with suspicion.

The SP is yet to issue an official clarification, and whether Akhilesh Yadav publicly distances himself from the remarks will be closely watched in the coming days.