Controversy erupts after walls of Haj House in Lucknow painted saffron

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh is in the eye of the storm, yet again, after walls of the Haj House in state capital Lucknow were painted saffron.

Used as a transit place by Muslims on their way to pilgrimage in Mecca, the green-and-white exterior wall of the Haj House have been coated saffron as opposition parties and Muslim clerics slam the Yogi government, accusing it of hurting religious sentiments

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However, Mohsin Raza, the minority affairs minister played down the controversy.

“There is no need for controversy in such things, saffron is an energetic and bright looking colour, the building looks beautiful,” Raza said.

“Opposition has no big issues against us so they raise inconsequential things,” he added.

After assuming office, Yogi Adityanath had got the chief minister’s office — Lal Bahadur Shastri Bhawan – in Lucknow painted saffron.

The painting of the Haj House comes in the wake of CM Yogi directing the madarsas in the state to cut down on the number of holidays on Muslim festivals and remain shut on Hindu festivals too.