BIG COMMENT/ Fadnavis Calls For 'Voto Ki Yagna' In Response To 'Vote Jihad'. What Does This Mean | Exclusive

New Delhi: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday spoke exclusively to Republic Media Network's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami and asked people to perform ‘Voto ki Yagna’ (yagna of votes) to bring PM Modi back. Fadnavis' counter comes days after Samajwadi Party's Maria Alam and other INDI leaders appealed to Muslim voters to launch a "vote jihad". 

On being asked about Uddhav being called Nakli Shiv Sena by PM Modi, Fadnavis said, "Obviously, it has become fake because for so many years, Shiv Sena chief Bala Saheb Thackeray, started his speeches with all my Hindu brothers and sisters. Until yesterday, Uddhav Thackeray began his speeches in the same way, but in the recent meeting of the INDI Alliance, everyone told him that Uddhav ji needs votes from the minority, so leave aside this Hindu word, and Uddhav Thackeray left that word. After that meeting, he has not uttered the word Hindu. So, Shiv Sena has become fake. (Nakli to ho hi gayi kyunki itne salon taK Hindu hriday samrat, Shiv Sena pramukh Bala Saheb Thackrey ji ne apne  bhashanon ki shuruaat mere tamaam Hindu bhaiyon, behno aise ki. Kal tak Uddhav Thackeray apne bhashan ki shuruaat karte the mere pyare Hindu bhaiyon aur behno lekin INDI aghadi ki Jo sabha hui, us sabha me sabne unko kaha Uddhav ji apne ko to minority ke vote chahiye, ye Hindu shabd chod dijiye aur Uddhav Thackeray ji ne wo shabd chod Diya. Us sabha ke baad wo Hindu shabd ka uccharan nahi kiya hai. To ho gayi Nakli Shiv Sena)."  

“I want to tell the voters that Uddhav Thackeray, Congress, and INDI are saying daily to wage a 'vote jihad' to defeat PM Modi. In response to their 'vote jihad,' I would request all patriots to perform a 'yagna of votes' to bring PM Modi back and strengthen the nation (Jaha tak aapne Uddhav Thackrey ki baat kahi hai Jo sirf Muslim appeasement kar rahe hain ki Uddhav Thackrey, Congress aur INDIA aghadi aaj roz keh rahi hai Modi ji ko harane ki liye 'vote ka jihad' kijiye, 'vote ke jihad' ki baat chal Rahi hai. Mai sabhi desh bhakto ko kehna chahta hun Modi ji ko chunkar lane ke liye aap apne 'vote ka yagya' kijiye aur us 'voto ke yagya' me apne vote ki samvidha dijiye aur is desh ko mazboot banaiye)”,  Fadnavis told Arnab. 

When asked if people have forgotten about the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha, Devendra Fadnavis said, "Jaha tak Ram mandir ka sawal hai ye hamare aastha ka prashna hai. Jan Jan ke man me Ram hai Ram ko koi bhula nahi sakta isiliye mai ye nahi manta ki voto ke liye ya rajneeti ke liye hamne iska upyog Kiya hai lekin ye zarur hai ki log keh rahe hai ki Jo log Ram ko laye Hain ham unko layenge ye unke mann me hai (As far as the Ram Mandir is concerned, it is a matter of our faith. Ram resides in the hearts of every person, and no one can defeat Ram. Therefore, I do not believe that we have used this issue for votes or political gain. However, people are indeed saying in their hearts that those who brought Ram will be brought back, and this sentiment exists among the people)."

Voto Ki Yagya vs Vote Jihad

Speaking about the 'Voto Ka Yagna,' Fadnavis underlined the sacredness of voting, comparing it to the purity of a Yagna. He said, "We call it voting. Just as a donation is sacred, a Yagna is also sacred. In a Yagna, offerings are made, symbolizing our devotion. When a leader like Modi Ji is building a strong India, taking the country to new heights, progressing towards a developed nation, and implementing an agenda for the welfare of the poor that is giving new meaning to the existence of India's poor, it is the duty of every individual to make their own contribution. The contribution we can make is through our vote. 

He added, "Therefore, in this ongoing democratic Yagna, every individual has the opportunity to make their offering. If we all dedicate our votes to Modi ji in this Yagna, he will fulfil the dream of a developed India.(Ham matdaan kehte hai. Dan pavitra hota hai, yagya bhi pavitra hota hai, yagya me samvidha daali jati hai, wo apna samarpan hota hai. Jab Desh me Modi ji jaise neta ek mazboot Bharat tayyar kar rahe hain, jab Desh ek nayi unchayi ko or ja raha hai, Viksit Bharat ki or agrasar hai, gareeb Kalyan ka agenda Bharat ke gareeb ke wajood ko ek naye vyakhya de Raha hai aise samay har vyakti ka kaam hai wo apne taraf se bhi koi samarpan kare aur wo samarpan ham kaunsa kar sakte Hain to apne vote ka samarpan kar sakte Hain isiliye ye Jo loktantra ka yagya chal raha hai is yagya me apni samvidha Dene ka har vyakti ko auka mil raha hai. Ham sab log hamari samvidha ye Modi ji ke prati agar us yagya me Dale to viksit Bharat ka sapna Modi ji pura karke dikhayenge).

On the other hand, amid the ongoing elections, calls for "vote jihad" are intensifying. Initially emerging in UP, this call has now spread to Maharashtra, with leaders from the Muslim Personal Law Board and Kul Jamat-e-Tanzeem urging Muslim voters to unite against Modi and the BJP.

'Choose Between Vote Jihad And Ram Rajya'

Earlier this month, launching a scathing attack on INDI leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that it is time for voters to decide if 'vote jihad will work or Ram Rajya'. "India is at a turning point in history; you have to decide if vote jihad will work or Ram Rajya," PM Modi said at a public meeting earlier this month. 

"Terrorists in Pakistan are threatening jihad against India. And here, those in Congress have also announced for vote jihad against Modi, which means people of a particular religion are being asked to vote unitedly against Modi. Imagine what level the Congress has stooped to. Do you agree with Vote Jihad? In a democracy, can it be done? Does our constitution allow this kind of Jihad?" he stated.