Mumbai: Shazia Ilmi, a top leader of Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has said she was being sarcastic when she was seen in a video urging Muslim leaders to "be communal." "I am shocked that my statement has been distorted," she said today.
In the controversial video posted on YouTube, Ms Ilmi was seen telling Muslim leaders, "I'm saying Muslims are very secular. Muslims need to be communal. A Muslim isn't communal - doesn't vote for his own. Arvind Kejriwal is one of you. You are too ...don't be this secular. Look after your own homes (interests)." (
Watch) NDTV cannot verify the authenticity of the video.
The BJP has complained against Ms Ilmi to the Election Commission. "Shazia Ilmi must give an explanation," said BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
The AAP leader has since offered many clarifications. "My party has always stood against communalism. I have only asked until when people will be voting for the so-called secular parties who exploit them as vote banks," Ms Ilmi told reporters this morning.
"Neither Meera Sanyal nor Mayank Gandhi nor Arvind Kejriwal is Muslim. I was asking to vote for them. How is it communal?"
Last night, hours after the video went viral, Ms Ilmi said, "I told Muslims to think about themselves, I said it half-sarcastically." (
Read: 'Muslims are too secular', says AAP's Shazia Ilmi in video)
In recent weeks, the national election has seen politicians using religion to court voters and making remarks designed to polarize votes, with the powerful Election Commission reacting swiftly. Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam has been booked in Mumbai after he said that "Narendra Modi would destroy Pakistan within 6 months" if he came to power.
Action has also been taken against politicians like Samajwadi Party's Azam Khan and BJP's Amit Shah and Giriraj Singh for controversial statements.