‘ALI, BAJRANG BALI ARE OURS’
COUNTER ATTACK Targeting UP CM, Akhilesh says gods are not happy with these people
BADAUN (UP): BSP chief Mayawati said on Saturday that “both Ali and Bajrang Bali are ours”, doubling down on a figure of speech that she and rival BJP leader Adityanath have used to refer to the Muslim and Hindu communities, which has earned both of them notices from the election commission. She made the remark at a joint rally with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. The two leaders have come together for an alliance in the politically crucial state.
I am very thankful to Yogi ji that he has given us an important information about our ancestors... we have both Ali and Bajrang Bali, and their coming together will give us very good results in these elections MAYAWATI, Bahujan Samaj Party chief
›
The BJP wants to take the intruders out (of the country) but the BSP-SP and the Congress do not want this as they consider them their vote bank
›
AMIT SHAH , BJP president This election is between Anil Ambani and the common citizens, five years of ‘Anyay’ (injustice) and NYAY... false promises and truth RAHUL GANDHI, Congress chief
BADAUN(UP): Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati said on Saturday that “both Ali and Bajrang Bali are ours”, doubling down on a figure of speech that she and rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Adityanath have used to refer to Muslim and Hindu communities, which has earned both of them notices from the Election Commission.
Mayawati made the comments at an election campaign rally along with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, during what was the second joint rally between the two leaders who have come together for an alliance that many see as the ruling BJP’s biggest challenge in the state. “I want to tell him that both Ali and Bajrang Bali are ours .... So we want both Ali as well as Bajrang Bali,” she said, purportedly referring to chief minister Adityanath, who had previously accused the opposition parties of focusing their campaign only on Ali.
Ali is a revered figure in Islam, while Bajrang Bali refers to the Hindu god Hanuman.
“We particularly want Bajrang Bali because he is linked to my own Dalit caste,” said Mayawati, who is a Dalit community leader. Adityanath had last year described Hanuman as a forest dweller and a Dalit. “I am very thankful to Yogi ji that he has given us an important information about our ancestors. So, it is a very happy moment to note that we have both Ali and Bajrang Bali, and their coming together will give us very good results in these elections,” she added.
Yadav, too, targeted the UP chief minister over the issue. “Mayawatiji had said that our ‘baba mukhyamantri’ (chief minister) has talked about the caste of God. This time, the gods are not happy with these people,” he said.
The EC had on Thursday issued notices to Adityanath as well as Mayawati for their “Ali” and “Bajrang Bali” references, which complainants to the commission said were attempts at using religion for campaigning.
Both have responded and the EC said late on Friday that the responses were being looked into.
This is Adityanath’s second run-in with the EC; he was earlier told to be careful after he used the phrase “Modiji ki sena” while referring to the Indian army, a comment that virtually amounted to using the India armed forces in campaigning.
On Saturday, Mayawati and Yadav also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“In these elections, no amount of drama or ‘jumlebaazi’ (rhetoric) is going to help the BJP. Even the new drama of ‘chowkidari’ is not going to save them this time,” Mayawati said.
“Last time Modi came as a ‘chai wallah’ and this time he has come as ‘chowkidar’. However, he does not know that the people have recognised him and his ‘jumlas’, and will be voting the alliance to power,” Yadav added.
Meanwhile, BJP’s national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain hit out at SP leader Azam Khan for his “Bajrang Ali” remark on Friday, accusing Khan of trying to flare up communal tension.
Khan had waded into a controversy on Friday by saying, “In place of Ali and Bajrang Bali, it should be Bajrang Ali. Bajrang Ali todh day dushman ki neli (Bajrang Ali will destroy our enemies’ bones).”
Khan’s remark was in the backdrop of Adityanath’s statement that 2019 Lok Sabha elections were a contest between Ali and Bajrang Bali.
Reacting to Khan’s remark, Hussain said, “With his ‘Bajrang Ali’ comment, he has insulted both Hinduism and Islam. The only suggestion I have for him is ‘zuban sambhal ke’ (mind your language). Both Akhilesh Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav have been taught lessons for his comments in the past,” he said at a press conference.