Akhilesh Yadav had, in a jibe at PM Narendra Modi, said Gujarat ads project the "donkey" as exceptional
Highlights
- Akhilesh Yadav said Gujarat ads misrepresent "donkey" as exceptional
- Donkeys work tirelessly for their master, people are my master: PM
- Don't infect campaign with hatred, it's unbecoming: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi used a rally in Uttar Pradesh today to address being somewhat opaquely referred to as a
"donkey of Gujarat" by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. "The people of this country are my master, I take inspiration from the donkey because I work for people day and night," said Mr Modi on the state's fourth of seven rounds of voting.
In stern advice for Mr Yadav, who wants a second term, the PM said, "the hatred you exhibit is unbecoming", warning also that his alliance with the Congress "will sink you too."
As voting has progressed in Uttar Pradesh, whose result will be used to weigh the PM's chances of winning the next general election in two years, speeches by the main leaders have devolved into invective. On Monday, Mr Yadav at a rally said that new ads promoting tourism for the PM's home state of Gujarat hype the wild ass "as an exception creature." He told voters, "be wary of the exaggerated ability of this donkey."
His comments came after the
PM implicated the state government for minority appeasement, underscoring that "if arrangements are made for graveyards, crematoria must be too; if there is electricity for Ramzan, it must be organised for Diwali; if there is power for Holi, it must also be supplied for Eid." Opposition parties accused the PM of trying to polarize voters by suggesting it is Muslims who have benefited from the skewed policies of Mr Yadav's government.
Senior BJP leaders like Rajnath Singh told NDTV that
Mr Modi was making the point that no section of people should be treated to special treatment because they are viewed as a vote-bank. The Chief Minister, whose Samajwadi Party relies heavily on Muslim support, then announced, "
I can swear on the Ganga that we have provided uninterrupted power to Varanasi. Can the PM swear by the holy river that we have not?" The ancient city of Varanasi is the parliamentary constituency of Mr Modi.