Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh) [India], July 24 (ANI): Kashish Warsi, National President of the Bhartiya Sufi Foundation, on Thursday expressed concern over Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's recent visit to the Parliament Street Mosque, stating that Mosques should remain places of worship and not be used for political purposes.

'The mosque is a place of worship, not for worldly affairs... The Imam should take guests elsewhere. Many leave silently when taken there. However, the Imam has turned the mosque into a political arena... I regret this and advise Muslims to keep mosques safe and free of politics. No leader should turn the mosque into a political arena,' Warsi told ANI.

Earlier, BJP leaders mocked the Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav for holding the meeting, calling it 'appeasement politics'

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak called Yadav 'Nawaazwadi' while accusing him and his party of not having faith in the constitution.

He stated that the Indian constitution doesn't permit the use of religious places for political purposes.

'Samajwadi Party chief and Samajwadi Party always violate the constitution. The Indian Constitution states that religious places cannot be used for political purposes. They do not have faith in the constitution. 'Woh hamesha Namaazwadi bane rehte hai', and that is what he is doing,' Pathak told ANI.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Shashank Mani mocked Akhilesh Yadav for conducting a meeting inside a mosque, stating that the party had been engaging in 'appeasement politics' for many years, and further claimed that their primary aim was to maintain their family members in power.

'Samajwadi Party has been doing appeasement politics for many years. They only have one aim to keep members of their family in power. SP should work for all, not for one particular community,' Mani said, speaking to ANI.

National President of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Minority Morcha, Jamal Siddiqui, stated that the meeting only showed how Yadav thought all Islamic religious places were in his 'pocket'.

'I condemn the way Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav has conducted a meeting in the pious mosque in front of the Parliament. This shows Akhilesh Yadav thinks all Islamic religious places are in his pocket... BJP and Minority Morcha will protest against them,' Siddiqui said.

Following a controversy surrounding his meeting apparently held inside a mosque on Parliament Street, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said that faith unites people, while accusing the BJP of using religion as a 'divisive' tool.

Speaking to the media, Yadav alleged that the BJP wants people to keep 'divided.'

'Faith connects. Any religion or faith that connects people is valuable, and we are with those that work to build trust and foster connections. BJP has a problem with this... BJP wants people to stay divided, not united. We have faith in all faiths... BJP's tool is religion...' Yadav said. (ANI)