India, Oct. 25 -- Members of the Pahadi Army, a regional social organisation , burnt an effigy of Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav in Uttarakhand's Haldwani on Sunday, protesting against his remark referring to people from Uttarakhand as "infiltrators" in Uttar Pradesh.

Pahadi Army president Harish Rawat said the hill community was deeply conscious of its culture, traditions and self-respect. "Any statement hurting the community's sentiments would be opposed democratically. The term 'infiltrators' is generally associated with militants and terrorists," he said, demanding an apology from Yadav to the people of Uttarakhand. He warned that the protest could intensify in the coming days if Yadav did not apologise.

The row erupted af...