UP Haj committee office painted saffron by Yogi Adityanath government

The wall of the office located near the BJP headquarters and the chief minister’s secretariat Lok Bhavan has been painted in two shades of saffron but the main building remains white.

The Yogi Adityanath-led Bharatiya Janata Party government has painted the outer wall of the Uttar Pradesh State Haj Committee office in saffron, in a move that could trigger a fresh controversy in the state.

Uttar Pradesh State Haj Committee office in Lucknow. (HT Photo)

The wall of the office located near the BJP headquarters and the chief minister’s secretariat Lok Bhavan has been painted in two shades of saffron but the main building remains white.

State haj minister Mohsin Raza, who often wears a saffron waistcoat, said there is “no need for any controversy”.

“Saffron is a bright and energetic colour. It has made the building even more beautiful. The opposition has no big issues against us so they keep raising inconsequential matters,” state haj minister Mohsin Raza, who often wears a saffron waistcoat, said.

The office facilitates the pilgrimage to Mecca by making various arrangements, checking documents and providing a training programme for the pilgrims from the state.

Earlier in September, the state government painted the secretariat annexe building (Shastri Bhawan) in shades of saffron and also launched a rural bus service with a saffron-coloured fleet.

“We know that this government does not hide its political agenda. They often do things that touch the sensitivities of Muslims. But any particular colour has no significance in Islam. All colours are beautiful,” Athar Hussain, director of Lucknow’s Centre for Objective Research and Development, said.

The colour saffron is mostly associated with Hinduism and the BJP.