Bengaluru, June 20: Karnataka cleric Tanveer Hashmi was slammed by noted Urdu poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar on Wednesday on his Twitter account for creating communal disharmony. Hasmi had allegedly stated that cows would be slaughtered during Bakrid which drew a lot of flak. In the latest development, the Muslim priest has come up with a clarification over his remark. He said to ANI that his statement had been "misrepresented" and he did mean anything which could hurt the sentiments of either of the communities (Hindu-Muslim). He further said that he follows Sufism which does not allow to cut a tree, then how he will make a statement to kill a human being.

Amid the controversy over the remark, Javed Akhtar accused Maulana Tanveer of creating communal tensions and also demanded to take action against him in his one of his tweets.

What I said on Eid was misinterpreted. I follow Sufism in which one is not even allowed to cut a tree branch, how can I say a person should be cut. Hindus & Muslims stay peacefully in Bijapur, some anti-social elements have been trying to incite violence: Maulana SM Tanveer Hasmi pic.twitter.com/g0KweurkDc

— ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2018

According to earlier reports, the cleric embroiled in controversy after he remarked that cows would be slaughtered during Bakrid. During the speech he said, "Let me bring to your notice, in two months time there will be Bakrid. In the name of a cow, this satan (devil) will do a mischief. I am telling you (the minister) this beforehand so as to ensure that with the cow another sacrifice does not happen," Tanveer Hashim said in his speech in Urdu as per the NDTV news report.

Immediately after the controversial remark, BJP spokesperson S Prakash urged the coalition JD(S)-Congress government to register a case against the cleric.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 20, 2018 07:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).