Mumbai:
BJP star campaigner Yogi Adityanath's slogan 'Batenge toh katenge', spearheading the party's campaign in Maharashtra, is not only making his allies cringe but also causing deep discomfort among a section of BJP leaders, as expressed by Pankaja Munde. and Ashok Chavan. Among allies, Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar has already shared his doubts, saying that while such slogans work in the north, they are not appropriate for Maharashtra, the “land of the saints and followers of Shiva.” .
The slogan 'Batenge toh katenge (Division is destruction)', which the opposition claimed has communal overtones, has already been tweaked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Ek hai toh safe hai,” Prime Minister Modi had said earlier this month, repackaging his message of unity.
But it could not prevent an outpouring of condemnation from party leaders and allies.
Pankaja Munde, daughter of late BJP stalwart Gopinath Munde, was the first to speak.
“To be honest, my politics are different. I will not support it just because I belong to the same party. My belief is that we should only work on development. A leader's job is to make every living person in this country ours. Therefore, we do not need to bring such an issue to Maharashtra,” she said yesterday.
Today, Ashok Chavan, who switched from Congress to BJP in February ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, made his stand clear.
“This (slogan) has no relevance. Slogans are given during election times. This particular slogan is not in good taste and I don't think people will like it. Personally, I am not in favor of such slogans.” he told news agency Press Trust of India.
Then it was Ajit Pawar's turn, who also did not mince his words. “I don't support it. I have said this several times. It will not work in Maharashtra. This could work in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand or other places,” said the nephew of Sharad Pawar, whose undivided party enjoyed significant popular support . the Muslims.
The Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde faction is also apparently wary of the slogan's potential to consolidate the minority vote in favor of the opposition and spread the message of development and welfare that the government has been working hard to build. However, every leader of his party is yet to speak out on the issue.
Today, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attempted to explain the issue and said Pankaja Munde and Ashok Chavan have failed to understand the “core meaning” of the slogan, which is basically a message of unity.
“Batenge to katenge is a counter-narrative to the divisive campaign of the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi, and the core message of the slogan is that “everyone should stick together,” Fadnavis said during an interaction with the media.
The opposition MVA, meanwhile, is immensely enjoying the ruling alliance's discomfort.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has asked the BJP to choose between Yogi Adityanath's 'divisive' slogan and Prime Minister Modi's call for unity.
“While Yogi says, 'Batenge toh katenge,' Modi introduces the contradictory slogan, 'Ek hain toh safe hain (when we are united, we are safe).” You decide among yourselves whose slogan should be followed: Yogiji's or Modi's?”
NCP's Supriya Sule said the party that broke the parties has itself become divided. “They are between two minds in the BJP. On one hand, Devabhau says one thing and on the other hand, ally Pankaja Munde says something else… We will have to ask Devabhau how this became 50-50?” she said.
Shaina NC, who is contesting on a Shiv Sena ticket, accused the MVA of altering statements. “MVA is spreading a false narrative… MVA is deliberately cutting some statements from our leaders and spreading a false narrative. MVA does not know the context. These people are talking dirty.”
Kirit Somaiya of the BJP said, “Yogi-ji has said that if we are divided, we will be divided. Modi ji says when we are united, we are safe. We say voice jihad for a reason. We're just warning people. against voting jihad. All the BJP leaders are saying the same thing. Some leaders' statements have gone wrong, but everyone's struggle is the same.