Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'ek hain toh safe hain' statement, which was initially coined to criticize the Congress for engaging in divisive politics, has now become a popular slogan across the country. So much so that it was given pride of place in newspapers in poll-starred Maharashtra on Monday.
The BJP's newspaper advertisement also features the logos of its Mahayuti alliance partners, Shiv Sena and the NCP.
During a recent poll in Maharashtra, Prime Minister Modi slammed the Congress saying they are pitting one caste against another. “They don't want SCs, STs and OBCs to progress and get due recognition. Remember: 'Ek hai toh safe hai' (We are safe when we are united).”
Congress says 'competition of slogans'
The statement was strongly criticized by the opposition.
Addressing a press conference, Kharge said the Mahayuti government was not formed on the basis of any ideology but by breaking the MLAs of the undivided Shiv Sena and NCP.
While Kharge campaigned in Maharashtra, party leader Rahul Gandhi sought votes for the Congress and the JMM-led alliance in Jharkhand.
Kharge targeted the BJP over its 'batenge to katenge' slogan, saying it was divisive.
The Congress leader said that while UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath raised the slogan 'batenge toh katenge', Prime Minister Narendra Modi said 'ek hain toh safe hain'.
He said it appears there was “a competition” between Prime Minister Modi and Yogi Adityanath for coming up with such slogans that they had to decide “whose slogan should be propagated”.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Raut told ANI, “Why is it necessary for the Prime Minister to say these kinds of things. 'Batenge toh katenge' didn't work here and the people of Maharashtra threw it away. Now 'ek hain toh safe hain', who is he trying to unite and who is he trying to save? Are not all the people of the state and country yours?