Lucknow, Nov. 12 -- AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav, challenging him to name a Muslim leader from within his party as its Chief Ministerial candidate and questioning why he had not stepped aside to make way for such a leader.

Responding to the political reactions to the newly formed 'Samajik Parivartan Morcha', Owaisi asked Yadav to step aside and allow another leader from his party to take charge, recalling the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots and the displacement of thousands of people.

"Akhilesh Yadav should go ahead, name one! Pick anyone from your party and step aside to let them lead. Who is stopping you? You were the Chief Minister for so many years, and yo...