Parties across the political spectrum on Thursday criticised Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Haji Yaqoob Qureshi for his statement supporting the attack on French satire magazine Charlie Hebdo, in which 12 people were killed, including two police officers.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stated that Qureshi should be arrested and put behind bars.
"It is absolutely shocking to hear what Qureshi said. The strongest of actions should be taken by BSP and the UP government should act in accordance to law and arrest Qureshi for creating this kind of image of India worldwide," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told ANI.
Meanwhile, Janata Dal (United) leader Ali Anwar said that his party disagrees with Qureshi's statement.
"We don't agree with this statement. Islam doesn't permit violence. What happened in Paris is highly condemnable," Anwar said.
In 2006, Qureshi had reportedly offered a reward of Rs.51 crore at a public rally to anyone who would kill a Danish cartoonist for publishing controversial cartoons of Prophet Mohammed.
In the aftermath of Wednesday's attack on French satire magazine Charlie Hebdo, Qureshi is understood to have offered the French terrorists the same reward.