Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has sparked controversy ahead of the state elections by calling for a “religious war of votes” to counter what he referred to as “Vote Jihad.” Speaking at a rally in Khadakwasla, Fadnavis accused the opposition alliance, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), of trying to divide voters along religious lines. He pointed to a controversial video involving Islamic scholar Sajjid Nomani as evidence.
Fadnavis said that efforts were underway to undermine both the BJP-led Maharashtra government and the central government by creating divisions among voters based on religion. He highlighted the inclusive nature of welfare programs such as the Ladki Bahin Yojana, saying that these initiatives are designed to benefit all communities, irrespective of religion.
“Some people are trying to divide voters on religious grounds during elections,” Fadnavis said. He was referring to the alleged appeal made in the video. He also defended the Ladki Bahin Yojana, saying that the programme was intended to help women from all communities, contrasting it with the divisive tactics allegedly employed by the MVA.
Fadnavis slams Opposition of polarising voters
In a sharp critique of the opposition, Fadnavis accused Congress, Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray of promoting appeasement politics. He said that their strategies were aimed at polarising voters, whereas the BJP remains committed to inclusive development.
“When we introduced the Ladki Bahin Yojana, we made sure that its benefits were available to women of all religions, not just Hindu women. Meanwhile, certain political parties are trying to exploit religious sentiments for electoral advantage,” Fadnavis said.
Fadnavis criticises Ulama Council’s demands
Fadnavis also drew attention to a 17-point charter reportedly presented by the Ulama Council to the MVA. He described some of the demands as “dangerous,” particularly a proposal for 10 per cent reservation for Muslims and the withdrawal of cases against Muslim youth involved in riots between 2012 and 2024.
The BJP leader claimed that the MVA had promised in writing to implement these demands if they returned to power. “These are not mere demands. They are harmful attempts to create division in society,” he said. Fadnavis ended his speech by urging unity. He said that collective solidarity is the key to maintaining safety and stability. “If there is a ‘vote jihad,’ we must respond with a religious war of votes,” he said.
