A day after BJP's Adampur candidate and TikTok sensation Sonali Phogat asked a group of people if they were from Pakistan when they did not chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' at her rally in Haryana’s Balsamand village, she apologised for her comments on Wednesday, 9 October.
“I was angry and asked them if they have come from Pakistan. I apologise if I hurt someone's sentiments but all I wanted was to tell them was that we should say 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' to give respect to our nation,” said Phogat, speaking to news agency ANI.
What Did Phogat Say?
Addressing a rally at Adampur in Haryana’s Hisar district, Phogat asked people if they were Pakistanis.
"Pakistan se aaye ho kya? Pakistani ho kya? Agar Hindustan se aaye ho to Bharat Mata ki Jai bolo (Translated: Have you come from Pakistan? Are you Pakistanis? If you are from India chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'),” she told a few people in the crowd at the rally who remained silent after she asked the audience to raise the slogan.
The 40-year-old candidate then repeated her chants of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'.
Turning to that section in the crowd again, on her right, she said, "I feel ashamed that people like you too are Indians, who would not chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' for petty politics."
In a video of Phogat’s purported outburst, which went viral on social media, she is seen further telling them, “Those who cannot say ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, their vote has no value”.
"Shame on those who cannot chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai." However, later during her speech, she promised to build a college in the area, which drew loud cheers and chants of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' from the audience.
Phogat, who is pitted against sitting Congress MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi, said she will defeat him like Smriti Irani ousted Rahul Gandhi from his stronghold Amethi. Haryana goes to polls on 21 October.
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