Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended Yogi Adityanath's 'batenge toh katenge' slogan after ally Ajit Pawar remarked that there is no place for such a statement in Maharashtra. The BJP leader said that slogan, which has heated up the political atmosphere in the state ahead of the Assembly polls, was misunderstood by Pawar, who he claimed has been influenced by the "anti-Hindu ideologies for decades".

After several leaders of the Opposition and a few from the Mahayuti alliance criticised the slogan, Ajit Pawar also joined the brigade and slammed it showing that he did not endorse it. Fadnavis on the other hand continued to back it saying that there is nothing wrong with it.

On Friday, Fadnavis suggested that the leaders of the ruling alliance who have commented against the slogan had either not understood the nationalist emotions of the public, misunderstood the meaning of the slogan ot probably wanted to say something else.

He even suggested that Ajit Pawar will take time to understand the public sentiment given his long-term association with the groups who are "anti-Hindu".

"For decades, Ajit Pawar stayed with such ideologies which are secular and anti-Hindu. There is no real secularism amongst those who call themselves secularists. He has stayed with people for whom opposing Hindutva is secularism. It will take some time for him to understand the mood of the public," Fadnavis told news agency ANI.

These people either did not understand the sentiment of the public or did not understand the meaning of this statement or while speaking they probably wanted to say something else," he added.

#WATCH | On Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's remark "there is no place for UP CM Yogi Adityanath's 'batenge toh katenge' slogan", Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis says "...For decades, Ajit Pawar stayed with such ideologies which are secular and anti-Hindu. There is no real… pic.twitter.com/yFhOdyPwjj

— ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2024

The BJP leader also clarified that the slogan, which was coined by Uttar Pardesh CM Yogi Adityanath during one of the rallies in Maharashtra, meant everyone has to stick together.

On why PM Modi's 'ek hai toh safe hai' slogan is a "Mahamantra", he said: "The mantra given by PM Modi to keep the public united means that if we stay together only then we will grow and develop." He also alleged that the Congress is trying to divide people. 

Slamming the 'batenge toh katenge' slogan, Ajit Pawar had said: "We all opposed it. Not just my NCP leaders and I, but even Pankaja Munde and [Poonam] Mahajan". 

"Some other state's chief minister comes and issues a call of 'batenge to katenge'... We told him that this is not UP. This might work in the North, but not in Maharashtra. We abide by the principles of Ambedkar," he added.

Apart from Pawar, BJP leaders Pankaja Munde and Ashok Chavan also voiced their disagreement with the slogan. 

Former minister Pankaja Munde had said there was no need for a slogan such as 'batenge toh katenge' in Maharashtra. "Frankly speaking, my politics is different. I won't support it just because I belong to the BJP. My belief is we should  work on development. There is no need for such an issue in Maharashtra".

Meanwhile, Chavan, who joined the BJP in February after quitting Congress, said:"I don't think people will appreciate it. Personally speaking, I am not in favour of such a slogan".

Maharashtra will go to polls on November 20 and results will be declared on November 23.