 "Shazia defends 'communal' comment, says words misconstrued")
Even as many leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) distanced themselves from party spokesperson Shazia Ilmi’s purported call to Muslim leaders “to turn communal”, Ilmi on Wednesday sought to clarify her controversial remarks. Ilmi said the comment was made in an “ironic manner” but was “taken out of context”.
“It is quite clear from the tone and tenor of the conversation that I am using the word 'secular' and 'communal' in an ironic manner… I am shocked to see a statement like this can be distorted and misconstrued as communal or inciting hatred. My party and I have always stood against any form of communalism and shall continue to do so,” said the AAP candidate from Ghaziabad in a press statement.
“Don’t be much secular. Muslims are too secular and they should become communal. They are not communal and do not vote for themselves. Arvind Kejriwal is ours. Muslims have remained secular for long... Have voted for the Congress and helped them win. Don’t be so secular and look at your house (community) this time,” Ilmi had said in the 90-second clip that went viral online.
Ilmi’s statement had drawn flak from not only the opposition parties but also from other AAP leaders. “I've seen Shazia's clip. She should have not said it. AAP does not believe in communal politics. Our politics is to unite all Indians,” AAP leader Manish Sisodia tweeted on Tuesday.
“It is very condemnable. There is a conspiracy to spread communal poison among the people. Shazia Ilmi must give an explanation for it. We condemn this,” said Bharatiya Janata Party's vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
“It is quite clear from the tone and tenor of the conversation that I am using the word 'secular' and 'communal' in an ironic manner… I am shocked to see a statement like this can be distorted and misconstrued as communal or inciting hatred. My party and I have always stood against any form of communalism and shall continue to do so,” said the AAP candidate from Ghaziabad in a press statement.
“Don’t be much secular. Muslims are too secular and they should become communal. They are not communal and do not vote for themselves. Arvind Kejriwal is ours. Muslims have remained secular for long... Have voted for the Congress and helped them win. Don’t be so secular and look at your house (community) this time,” Ilmi had said in the 90-second clip that went viral online.
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Ilmi said she meant the Muslim community should “turn to their real-life material interests, the so-called community interests like education, employment, etc”.
Ilmi’s statement had drawn flak from not only the opposition parties but also from other AAP leaders. “I've seen Shazia's clip. She should have not said it. AAP does not believe in communal politics. Our politics is to unite all Indians,” AAP leader Manish Sisodia tweeted on Tuesday.
“It is very condemnable. There is a conspiracy to spread communal poison among the people. Shazia Ilmi must give an explanation for it. We condemn this,” said Bharatiya Janata Party's vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.