Published 16:50 IST, April 16th 2019
Navjot Singh Sidhu justifies his communal appeal to voters, claims 'was not trying to divide, was only saying Muslims need to unite against PM Modi'
Minutes after stoking a controversy by making a communal appeal to Muslim voters, Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has informed the media that he has not received any notice from the Election Commission.
Minutes after stoking a controversy by making a communal appeal to Muslim voters, urging them to vote for Congress in order to defeat PM Narendra Modi, the Congress leader and Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has informed the media that he has not received any notice from the Election Commission. Justifing his statement, he said:
"Was not trying to divide anyone. Was only saying that Muslims need to unite against PM Modi who doesn't have their best interests at heart. I have not received any notice from Election Commission" .
This comes after Punjab Congress minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, taking the lines of BSP supremo Mayawati, had appealed the Muslims to vote in unison in order to oust the Modi government.
While addressing a rally in Bihar's Purnia, Navjot Singh Sidhu also targeted Asaduddin Owaisi for seeking Muslim votes, after which he called out the '64 per cent Muslim population' in the region to vote to remove the government-led by PM Modi.
"Muslim brother, people like Owaisi want to win by dividing the Muslim vote here. 64% is your (Muslim) population is in majority here and if you will get together and cast your votes, then Modi will be finished," said Sidhu in a public rally in Purnia on Tuesday.
After Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu attacked Asaduddin Owaisi during his appeal to Muslims in Bihar's Purnia, AIMIM chief has responded to him. Owaisi hit back at Sidhu reminding him that he was earlier with the BJP, the same party he has accused of dividing people. He also spoke about his work for Seemanchal and future campaigning in Punjab.
Polarising speeches, seeking votes on religious terms, has emerged significantly during the election campaigning for 2019 Lok Sabha polls, with top leaders like BSP supremo Mayawati. Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, SP leader Azam Khan and Union Minister Maneka Gandhi coming under the radar of the Election Commission.
Updated 16:50 IST, April 16th 2019