Video | Akhilesh Yadav takes controversial jibe at BJP: 'Don't promote donkeys of Gujarat'

UP chief minister and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav came down heavily on BJP leaders, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at a rally in Raebareli on Monday.  

Without naming the prime minister, Akhilesh made an oblique reference to Modi saying that "Gujarat wale TV pe gadhon ka prachar karate hain aur UP mein aaker shamshan aur kabristan ki baat kerte hain (Gujaratis promote donkeys on TV and talk about graveyards when they visit UP)."

"Ek gadhe ka vigyapan aata hai, main iss sadi ke sabse bade mahanayak se kahunge ke ab aap Gujarat ke gadhon ka prachar mat kariye (An advertisement featuring donkey appears on media, I request the biggest icon of this century to stop promoting donkeys of Gujarat)," he added.

UP CM's controversial remark is in direct reaction to PM Modi's statement on his government's alleged biased treatment of different communities. 

"If a village gets a graveyard, it should get a cremation ground too. If there is electricity during Ramzan, there should be electricity during Diwali too. If there is electricity during Holi, there should be electricity during Eid too. There should not be any discrimination,” PM had remarked on Sunday.  (Read full story here)

Akhilesh's remark is in reference to a series of advertisements by Gujarat Tourism. In one such ad, Amitabh Bachchan is seen clicking pictures of donkeys in the wild Gujarat. Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan is the brand ambassador of Gujarat Tourism. 

Read | Congress to file complaint against PM Modi’s controversial remarks during Fatehpur rally