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Regular-article-logo Saturday, 04 May 2024

In viral video, Maneka Gandhi hints that Muslims should vote BJP if they want work

Dil khatta ho jayega, minister heard telling a rally in Sultanpur

Furquan Ameen New Delhi Published 12.04.19, 02:21 PM
Maneka is a six-time MP from Pilibhit but is contesting from Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh this time.

Maneka is a six-time MP from Pilibhit but is contesting from Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh this time. Telegraph file photo

A video of minister Maneka Gandhi is doing the rounds where she is heard telling Muslim voters to support her and hinting that after her win, she may not heed them if they don't vote for her.

The authenticity of the video could not be established independently by this website. However, Maneka's Twitter handle this evening had another video with a similar speech at the same venue - Turab Khani in Sultanpur - where she was wearing the same green sari as in the video being circulated by TV channels and on social media.

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Maneka is a six-time MP from Pilibhit but is contesting from Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh this time.

In the clip being shown by TV channels, Maneka tells Muslims 'dil khatta ho jayega (my feelings will sour)' if the community does not support her. “I’m winning, but if my victory will happen without Muslims I won’t feel good. Dil khatta ho jayega.' Jobs are saudebaazi (a trade), she says. “Yeh nahin ki hum sab Mahatma Gandhi ke chhathi aulaad hain... ki hum keval dete hi jayenge, dete hi jayenge, aur phir election mein maar khate hi jayenge (it is not like we all are children of Mahatma Gandhi and would only give and give and face defeat when election comes.)'

The rally in Sultanpur is believed to have been held yesterday.

Maneka is also heard warning the audience, 'when your polling booth’s result is declared and if it reflects 100 or 50 votes, and then you’ll come for work to me then you’ll see.” Minutes later she also says: 'Main dosti ka haath leke aayi hoon (I have come here to extend the hand of friendship).'

The BJP has not said anything officially about her speech, nor has the Election Commission. Under the general conduct guidelines for candidates, the election watchdog says that 'there shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes'.

Today as the video flashed on social media and on television channels, Maneka put a different video clip out on her Twitter handle in the evening. In this clip too she was seen speaking at a rally and addressing Muslim voters. Whether this video was released to highlight a different part of her Thursday speech, or was at a different rally the same day, is unclear. The second video, up on Maneka's own handle, somewhat lays to rest the doubts regarding the authenticity of the video that went viral.

In this video on Maneka's Twitter handle, the tone is a bit different. But she repeats the point that she would be disappointed if Muslims did not vote for her. 'Ab Modi saab ne Dilli mein baith kar ke koi farak dekha nahin. Vikalangon ki kya hogi? Kabhi poochha gaya ke isme se 90 fisadi Musalman hain, 10 fisadi Hindu hain (Now, Modi saab sitting in Delhi did not discriminate against anyone. What about the physically challenged? Did the government ever ask that 90 per cent are Muslims and 10 per cent are Hindus)?' She mentioned several other schemes and said that the Modi government has never discriminated against Muslims.

'Modiji only said that the poor must benefit.... Sawaal yeh hai, ki aap log jab aatey ho madad ke liye, election ke time kehte ho ke Bhajpa ko nahin denge. Hum koi bhi party ko denge. Bhajpa haregi. Humara dil bhi toot tha hai (you come to us for help. But during elections, you say we will not vote BJP, we will vote anyone else. BJP will lose. Then our heart is broken.)'

The Telegraph

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