"This has been country's history, see nothing wrong in it": Devendra Fadnavis backs CM Yogi's 'Batenge toh Katenge' slogan

Mumbai: As the Maharashtra election inches closer there has been a huge debate on UP CM Yogi Adityanath's slogan of 'Batenge to Katenge' calling for Hindu unity. While some members of the BJP led Mahayuti alliance have voiced their reservations, state Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that he does not see anything wrong in the slogan, stating that this has been the history of our country. 

The slogan has also been widely condemned by the opposition leaders, claiming communal overtones in it. However in an interview with ANI, Fadnavis says there is nothing wrong with it.

"I don't see anything wrong in Yogi ji's slogans. Look at the history of this country. Jab Jab bate hai tab gulam bane hai. Whenever this country divided into castes, into states, divided into communities society we became slaves. The country was also divided, and so were the people. That's why if we divide, we will be cut. This is the history of this country," Fadnavis said in an interview with ANI. 

"And I don't understand that if someone says don't divide, then what is the point of objecting to this?" he added. 

Asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's allegation that the opposition was dividing the OBC community, Fadnavis said that Rahul Gandhi's statement during the latter's visit to the United States has revealed their intentions. 

"Rahul ji has already given an indication of this in America. I feel that Rahul ji has made a mistake. They didn't know that the media followed them everywhere. So, when they went to America and made statements on the Constitution and reservation, their mentality was revea;ed. Secondly, you can see the manner in which they are trying to divide into different castes. The Prime Minister is right. There are 350 castes in OBC in Maharashtra," Fadnavis said. 

The BJP leader said that there are 350 and 54 subcastes among the Other Backward Class and Scheduled Tribes communities, respectively, making them a pressure group. If these communities get divided, Fadnavis said, then they will not be able to form that pressure group. 

"If these 350 castes form an OBC community, it becomes a pressure group. If these 350 castes are separated, then their pressure will be reduced. If we talk about STs, then 54 different tribal communities form an ST group. There are 54 castes and sub-castes. If we separate them, then they will not remain a pressure group," he said. 

In a dig at the Congress party, Fadnavis said that a 'Bharat Jodo' community has surfaced and the work of the group is to spread anarchy. 

"The activities of a community called Bharat Jodo are carried out by anarchists. They want to spread anarchy. These people are not Bharat Jodo. They want to divide and destroy India," he stated. 

Fadanavis has also been campaigning extensively in the poll-bound State claiming that the Congress was indulging in 'Vote Jihad' through its policies of selective appeasement, a claim he stands by. 

"What did we see in the Lok Sabha? In the Lok Sabha, we saw the Vote Jihad. From their religious points of view. They will put up banners which state that if we don't vote for Maha Vikas Aghadi, then it would be dishonesty towards Allah. They will put up banners like this. I ask all the secularists who believe in themselves, What kind of secularism is this? Will they make people swear? And what is the purpose? Defeat Modi?" he questioned. 

"I would like to give you an example. The Ulema Council has just announced their support to the Aghadi. They had given 17 demands. They have given a regular document that they will accept these 17 demands. I don't have a problem with that. What are the demands? Let me tell you one of the demands. One of the demands is that the riots that took place in Maharashtra from 2012 to 2024, all the cases that were filed against the people of the Muslim community, will be removed and taken back. Now, I want to ask a question. What kind of politics is going on here?" 

The BJP leader said that if a party wants to fight with the rioters and we remain divided, then we will be destroyed. 

"In this way, if a party wants to fight with the rioters and we remain divided, then we will be destroyed," Fadnavis said. 

The campaigning has intensified for the 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra, with both the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) making efforts to woo the electorate. The Maharashtra assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, and counting will be held on November 23.