BJP leaders reject controversial slogan
What's the story
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Ashok Chavan and Pankaja Munde have denounced the contentious 'batenge toh katenge' slogan by Uttar Pradesh's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Rhetoric rejection
'Vote jihad - dharma yuddha' rhetoric dismissed by Chavan
Chavan also dismissed the "vote jihad-dharma yuddha" rhetoric, stressing that BJP and ruling Mahayuti's attention should be on national and Maharashtra's development. He said, "Every political functionary has to take a decision after a lot of thinking. We also have to see that nobody's sentiments are hurt." Another BJP leader Pankaja Munde also rejected the slogan, stressing it isn't her political approach. Munde said, "Frankly, my politics is different. I won't support it just because I am of that party."
Divergent views
Munde and Pawar voice opposition to slogan
"My belief is that we should work on development alone," she added. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, an ally of BJP in Mahayuti, also opposed the slogan. Calling it inappropriate for Maharashtra, he said, "People's thinking in UP, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh is different, but such statements don't work here." Pawar highlighted Maharashtra's rich cultural heritage by mentioning Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj and Shivaji Maharaj.