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Amid the ongoing controversy over Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's 'Batenge to Katenge' remark, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday emphasised that people neither need to divide nor divide others, asserting that the entire country must stay united.
"Always remember one thing: 'Aapko na batna hai, na baantna hai, poore desh ko ek saath rehna hai' (You neither have to divide nor let others divide; the entire country must stay together). We have to stay united. If we avoid division, we will move towards development and create a developed nation and a developed Maharashtra... 'Apni mohabbat ki dukaan mein Rahul Gandhi nafrat ka saamaan bech rahe hain (In his shop of love, Rahul Gandhi is selling goods of hatred)," Rajnath Singh said while addressing a public rally in Pune. Singh also expressed his respect for the late Balasaheb Thackeray while criticising Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray for allegedly compromising principles for power. "I have great respect for the late Balasaheb Thackeray. But the way Uddhav ji has put principles aside for power has deeply pained me. I want to say this to Uddhav ji: forming a government is not a big deal. A man of character is one who does not waver from his principles in times of adversity. What have you done? Whoever embraces the Congress is destined to sink," Singh added. The slogan 'Batenge to Katenge', coined by UP CM Yogi Adityanath as a call for Hindu unity, has been widely criticised by opposition leaders for allegedly carrying communal undertones. The slogan has sparked a war of words between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition parties, with critics arguing it promotes intolerance, while supporters interpret it as a call to resist forces seeking to divide society. Meanwhile, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday urged people not to misinterpret the slogan, emphasising the importance of unity in the fight against terrorism and external threats. Speaking to ANI, Gadkari said, "Our methods of worship might differ; some go to temples, others to mosques or churches, but ultimately, we are all Indians. We should not interpret 'Batenge to Katenge' in a divisive sense. Instead, we must stand united against terrorism and the enemies of our country. This is not an attempt to divide people, but sadly, some are deriving different meanings from the slogan." (ANI)
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