'Muslims too secular' remark was a play of words, says AAP’s Shazia Ilmi

New Delhi: AAP leader Shazia Ilmi was at the centre of a controversy on Tuesday over her remarks that Muslims should become “communal” for their own good when they vote this time and not be “too secular”.

The Arvind Kejriwal-headed Aam Aadmi party ticked Ms Ilmi off and distanced itself from the controversial remarks, saying it does not endorse her views. However, Ms Ilmi stood by her comments, which, she said was a “play of words”.

The AAP response came hours after a video of Ms Ilmi’s comments went viral on social media and the footage shown on TV channels, just two days ahead of the crucial sixth phase of the LS elections.

Meanwhile, Ilmi defended her statements on Twitter.

Well someone was accusing muslims of being communal. I think muslims keep voting for cong which uses them as vote bank

— shazia ilmi (@shaziailmi) April 22, 2014

In the video, which surfaced on Tuesday, Ms Ilmi said that Muslims’ votes split as they were “too secular” and they “should become communal” and vote keeping in mind “our own interest”. “Don’t be much secular. Muslims are too secular and they should become communal. They are not communal and do not vote for themselves. Arvind Kejriwal is ours. Muslims have remained secular for long...have voted for the Congress and helped them win. Don't be so secular and look at your house (community) this time. Other parties have their votebank intact and Muslim votes split. This is a controversial statement, but we should look at our own interest,” Ms Ilmi said.

Watch the controversial video where from Shazia Ilmi says 'Muslims should become communal'

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