UP polls: PM Modi hits back, says Akhilesh Yadav scared of donkeys of Gujarat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday responded to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s ‘donkey’ remark while addressing a rally in Bahraich. He was he was amused that Akhilesh was ‘afraid’ of the donkeys of Gujarat but said he takes inspiration from the ‘loyal’ and ‘hard working’ animal.

PM Modi went on to add that by criticising donkeys, AKhilesh has shown his “casteist mentality” and “the feeling of hatred does not suit him”.

“In elections, opponents criticise each other... Akhileshji I can understand if you attack Modi and BJP but I am amused that you have attacked donkeys...are you afraid of donkeys, that too these are thousands of kilometres away?” Modi said.

Addressing BJP’s Vijay Shanknaad rally here, he said, “The people of this country are my master, I take inspiration from the donkey because I work for people day and night...donkeys are loyal to their master,” said.

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“I am amused that your casteist mentality is also having a reflection on animals too...you found donkeys so bad...it is natural as your govenment is so efficient that the entire government goes about looking for buffaloes when they go missing,” he said.

His reference was to the buffaloes of SP minister Azam Khan which had gone missing in Rampur and police tracked them down.

“This is the pehchaan (identity) of your government but you are not aware that donkeys too give us inspiration if heart and mind is clear...we can also take that inspiration, it is loyal to the master and works as much as the master asks for and is very economical,” he said.

“It works even if it is ill, hungry or tired and completes the work...Akhileshji these 125 crore countrymen are my masters...I do all the work they ask me to do as I take inspiration from donkeys and take it with full pride,” Modi said.

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At a rally in Raebareli, Akhilesh had said, “TV pe ekvigyapan aata hai jisme ek gadha aata hai. Hum sadi ke mahanayak se kahenge ki Gujarat ke gadhon ka prachar band kariye.

(There comes an advertisement on Television which features a donkey. I will ask the megastar of this century to stop campaigning for donkeys),” he said.

“Gujarat ke gadhon ka prachar karate hain. Shamshan aur kabristan ki baat karte hain, na jaane kaun unko ye sab btata hai. Ab ad gadhe ke bhi hone lage, desh kahan jaata hai,” he had said.

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His comments were on a tourism advertisement for Gujarat featuring Amitabh Bachchan which promoted wild ass.

(With inputs from PTI)