Muslims don't believe in idols, they should not worry about Jinnah portrait issue: Ramdev

Yoga Guru Ramdev on Tuesday said that Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan cannot be an ideal for India's integrity and unity.

Reacting to the ongoing protest in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) over the portrait of Jinnah, Ramdev added that the matter should not concern the Muslim community as they anyway do not believe in idol worship.

"Muslims do not believe in idol worship. So, they should not worry about this issue. Jinnah cannot be an ideal for India's integrity and unity, maybe he is for Pakistan," Ramdev said.

In Aligarh, some groups protested against the portrait of Pakistan`s founder at the office of AMU student union's office. The matter hit the headlines after Bharatiya Janata Party's Aligarh MP Satish Gautam questioned the portrait's presence in the AMU student union office.

Ramdev's remarks come within a week of union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi criticising suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, for praising Jinnah amid the controversy over his portrait at AMU.  The minister had said Mr Aiyar's statement revealed the "true feelings of the Congress party".

The row over Jinnah made the headlines after BJP's Aligarh lawmaker Satish Gautam questioned the portrait's presence in the AMU student union office. AMU officials have said Jinnah was a founder-member of the university's court and was granted life membership of the student union.

(With inputs from ANI)