ABP Exclusive: Fadnavis On Sharad Pawar Accusing Him Of Raking Up 'Vote Jihad', 'How Can We Stay Quiet If...'
ABP Exclusive: Devendra Fadnavis' remarks come as the Mumbai Jamiat Ulema President appealed to all the Muslims in Maharashtra to cast their votes in favour of the opposition's MVA alliance.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reacted to Sharad Pawar's allegation against him that he was raking up "vote jihad" to give the Assembly polls a religious colour. He countered the allegation saying that the Mahayuti alliance will not sit and watch while the Maha Vikas Aghadi continues to constantly strike at it.
He made these remarks in connection with the ongoing row over "vote jihad", which has now intensified with Mumbai Jamiat Ulema President appealing to the Muslims to only vote for the Maha Vikas Aghadi in the upcoming Assembly polls in the state.
"We did not start this...They started it and if someone does a polarisation and vote jihad of this sorts then how can we stay quiet... If someone strikes at us will we keep suffering it? This can't be done in elections," he said.
On Sharad Pawar claiming that it was the BJP that started talks about vote jihad and that the MVA did not ask for support from the ULEMA, Fadnavis said: "If they did not ask for support then why did their General Secretary Jayant Patil agree and sign a letter of acceptance to their 17 demands? Nothing is fake. All the letters are original."
WATCH | चुनाव में 'वोट जिहाद' को लेकर उपमुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस ने दिया बड़ा बयान
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महाराष्ट्र के उपमुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस (@Dev_Fadnavis) का EXCLUSIVE इंटरव्यू @MeghaSPrasad | https://t.co/smwhXUROiK #maharashtra #vidhansabhaelections #devendrafadnavis pic.twitter.com/eyWzSUrD0M
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind on Friday appealed Muslims to vote for the MVA. The appeal was made by the President of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind Mumbai Maulana Siraj Khan before the Jumma namaz on November 15.
Prior to this, the All India Ulema Board had also extended its support to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance through a letter. Although it expressed its readiness to back the MVA, it had laid 17 conditions that it wanted the alliance to agree to in exchange for the Ulema's support. These conditions reportedly included reservation for Muslims and a ban on the RSS.
Following this, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya had claimed that the Maharashtra Congress had agreed to all 17 demands of the All India Ulama Board. However, the Congress denied the claims and said that BJP was "resorting to spreading falsehoods" by creating "fake photos".
On Congress calling the letter fake, he said: "Initially everyone gave the letter, but when it came out and reactions started coming in they began calling it fake. I suggest that forensic examination of the letter should be done...Nothing is fake".
Earlier this week, Devendra Fadnavis, referring to the purported appeal for "vote-Jihad" against the BJP-led Mahayuti government, had on Friday called for a “dharma-yudh of votes" to counter it.
He also clarified that there was no rift in the alliance despite Deputy CM Ajit Pawar opposing the "Batenge toh katenge" slogan. He stated that Pawar has never spoken against PM Modi and even agreed to his slogan "Ek hai toh safe hai" and that both the slogans have the same meaning and call for unity.
The ruling Mahayuti alliance comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP will be contesting against the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which consists of Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and the NCP-SP.
The Maharashtra Assembly elections will be held on November 20 and the counting of votes will be done on November 23.
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