Vote for me, you will need me once elections are over: Maneka to Muslims
Sultanpur (UP), Apr 12: In a controversial remark, Union minister Maneka Gandhi told Muslims to vote for her as they will need her once the Lok Sabha elections are over.
We are not Mahatma Gandhi's children that we keep giving and not get anything in return, she said in Muslim-dominated Turabkhani area on Thursday.
Gandhi, the BJP candidate from Sultanpur Lok Sabha constituency, claimed she is all set to win and told the Muslim audience that you might need me tomorrow.
The Congress reacted strongly with spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala saying she is trying to divide people on the basis of caste and community.
I am winning. I am winning because of the help and love of the people, Maneka Gandhi said at the meeting in Sultanpur, a constituency earlier held by her son Varun Gandhi.
But if my victory is without the Muslims, I will not feel very good, she said, adding she will be left with a bitter feeling.
If Muslims come for some work after this, I will think why bother, what difference will it make.
Suggesting that it was a matter of give and take, she added, We are not Mahatma Gandhi's children to keep giving without getting anything in return.
The minister asked them to check with the people in Pilibhit, her earlier constituency.
If there is even one person who says there had been something wrong on my part, don't vote for me, she said.
Gandhi said she had come with an open mind and they may feel that they might need me tomorrow.
This election I have already won, and you will need me and want to lay the foundation for this."
She also asked people to pass on this message to others.
Maneka Gandhi's remarks follow other controversial references to the Muslim electorate during the Uttar Pradesh campaign.
At her recent election meeting in Saharanpur's Deoband, Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati asked Muslims to support her alliance with the Samajwadi Party instead of splitting their vote by opting for the Congress.
In a rejoinder to this remark, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath brought up the controversial Ali-Bajrang Bali reference at an election rally.
"If the Congress, the SP and the BSP have faith in Ali, we have faith in Bajrang Bali," Aditynath said.
Lord Hanuman is called Bajrang Bali while Ali is a revered figure in Islam.
The Election Commission has sent Adityanath a notice on what could be a violation of the model code of conduct.
Union Minister Maneka Gandhi caught on camera asking Muslims to vote for her, otherwise when she is elected, she will not be inclined to listen to their requests. 'After all, we are not Mahatma Gandhi's children, are we?', the minister goes on to say. pic.twitter.com/DnrATYFBpD
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PBKS beat GT by three wickets in IPL match
Mullanpur (PTI): Cooper Connolly slammed a fine unbeaten fifty as Punjab Kings defeated Gujarat Titans by three wickets in their opening Indian Premier League match here on Tuesday.
A disciplined bowling effort helped PBKS restrict former champions GT to 162 for six with Vijaykumar Vyshak (3/34), Yuzvendra Chahal (2/28) and Marco Jansen (1/20) sharing the wickets after PBKS opted to bowl.
For GT, skipper Shubman Gill (39), Jos Buttler (38), Glenn Phillips (25) and Washington Sundar (18) scored bulk of the runs.
In reply, PBKS reached the target in 19.1 overs with Connolly (72 not out off 44 balls) emerging as the highest scorer.
Prasidh Krishna (3/29), Rashid Khan (1/29) and Washington Sundar (1/27) were among the wickets for GT.
Brief Scores:
Gujarat Titans: 162 for 6 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 39; Vijaykumar Vyshak 3/34, Yuzvendra Chahal 2/28).
Punjab Kings: 165 for 7 in 19.1 overs (Cooper Connolly 72; Prasidh Krishna 3/29).
