'Not In Good Taste', 'No Significance In Maharashtra': NDA Leaders Divided Over 'Batenge To Katenge' Slogan
While Yogi's 'Batenge to Katenge' remark has been endorsed by PM Modi and Devendra Fadnavis, a section of NDA leaders have rejected the slogan in the Maharashtra assembly polls.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's 'Batenge to Katenge' remark has become a buzzword in the run-up to the assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. The slogan, first raised by Yogi Adityanath in UP in August, has made headlines during the poll campaign by the saffron party in attacking the opposition.
While Yogi's remark has been endorsed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, a section of NDA leaders have rejected 'Batenge to Katenge' as the campaign comes to an end for the assembly polls.
BJP MP and former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan and Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar disapproved of the slogan saying it lacked appropriateness and relevance.
Though the NCP leader supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "ek hai to safe hai" slogan, he said India will be safe if it remained united.
"There is nothing wrong with that (slogan), I don't see any issue here. If we stay together, everyone will prosper," he added. However, he expressed disapproval about Yogi's remark refrain saying, "The remark 'batenge to katenge' is inappropriate. People's thinking in UP, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh is different, but such statements don't work here. Using such words holds no significance in Maharashtra, in my opinion."
Meanwhile, Ashok Chavan said the slogan is not in good taste and irrelevant and the people will not appreciate it. The former CM, who switched to BJP from Congress this year, also said he doesn't attach much importance to the vote jihad - dharma yuddha rhetoric, as the BJP and ruling Mahayuti's policy is development of the country and Maharashtra.
"There is no relevance of this (slogan). Slogans are given at election time. This particular slogan is not in good taste and I don't think people will appreciate it. Personally speaking, I am not in favour of such slogans," 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," he added.
Speaking of BJP's 'vote Jihad' claim, he said, "I don't give much importance (to vote jihad rhetoric). Personally speaking, development is my only agenda. Therefore, people appreciate my stand despite me changing the party."
However, Maharashtra Deputy CM Fadnavis said his party's 'batenge to katenge' slogan is a counter-narrative to the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi's (MVA) campaign and claimed his colleagues Ashok Chavan and Pankaja Munde as well as Deputy CM Ajit Pawar had failed to grasp its core meaning.
"Batenge to katenge' (disunity will lead to destruction) is a counter-narrative to the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi's divisive campaign, and the core message of the slogan is that everyone has to stick together," Fadnavis told reporters responding to the remarks made by Chavan and Pawar.
VIDEO | #MaharashtraAssemblyElections2024: Here's what BJP MP Ashok Shankarrao Chavan said on ‘Batenge Toh Katenge’ remark of UP CM Yogi Adityanath.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 14, 2024
"There is no relevance to this slogan... This particular slogan is not in good taste and I don’t think that people will… pic.twitter.com/1jzv2LCoRd
"I believe they have not understood the core message of the slogan. 'Batenge to katenge' means everyone has to stick together. The Prime Minister has succinctly said 'ek hai to safe hai'. It does not mean we are against Muslims. The government has framed various welfare initiatives for all communities. Have we said the Ladki Bahin Yojana will not apply to Muslim women," Fadnavis argued.
The opposition parties, including the Congress and the Samajwadi Party have hit out the BJP over the remarks, claiming it has communal overtones.
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