The Election Commission (EC) issued a show cause notice to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, on Wednesday, over his ‘Babur ki Aulad’ remark against Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate from Sambhal, Shafiq-ur-Rehman Burq. EC has directed Yogi to file his reply within 24 hours.
In its order, EC stated, “The commission, after considering the available material and extant instructions on the matter, has decided to provide you an opportunity to explain your stand regarding the said statement.”
Reacting to the notice, Yogi said, “Bhajan karne jaate hai kya manch pe? Ukhad dene ke liye aur apne virodhi ko gherne ke liye manch pe jaate hai.” (Do we go to the stage to sing devotional songs? We go there to defeat the opposition party and hit out at them). Adding further, he said, “Our work is to highlight the opposition’s weakness in front of the people. We do not mind it even when Congress or SP abuse us during their election campaigning. If we revert, why are we called wrong?”
Addressing a rally on April 19, the day the 72-hour ban came to an end, in Sambhal district, Yogi had said, “What can be said about SP… It fielded a candidate in Sambhal who claims himself to be the descendant of Babar, hesitates in garlanding the statue of Baba Saheb and does not recite Vande Matram.” He further added, “Samajwadi Party mein aise aise pratyashi bana diye jate hain… ek baar sansad mein baitha tha… sanjog se sambhal se prayashi wohi SP ke vartaman pratyashi hain… Maine unse pucha, tumhare purvaj kahan se hain, yeh sajjan bol pare hum Babar ki aulad hain…” (I had once asked a member in the Parliament, who is also the present SP candidate from here (Sambhal), about his ancestors and he replied ‘I am Babar’s descendent).
Continuing with his communal jibe, Yogi said, “Ek taraf Bharat ki astha ko samman dene wale Modi ji hain… Lekin dusari taraf apne ko Babur ki aulad kehne wala vyakti gathbandan ka pratyashi banke ata hai. Aap kya desh drohi ke hanthon mein desh ki bagdor saupna chahte hain…. atankwadion ke hath mein desh ki bagdor saupenge… apne ko Babur ki aulad kehne wale ko… Bajrang Bali ke virodhiyon ke hath mein desh ki bagdoor saupenge?” (On one hand, there is Modi ji, who has brought respect to the country. Would you like to hand over the reins of the country to the traitors or terrorists or those who call themselves Babur’s successors and oppose Bajrang Bali?)
Infamous for his communal and hateful statements, Yogi has been in a controversy right from the time the 2019 elections were announced. During the earlier campaigns, he had made inciteful comments like “if the Congress, SP and BSP have faith in Ali, then we have faith in Bajrang Bali” and called the Indian Union Muslim League a ‘Green Virus’. For these statements he was handed a 72 hour ban by the EC.
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