Muslims should be 'communal' when they vote, says Ilmi

In controversial remarks, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Shazia Ilmi has said Muslims' votes were 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,” Ilmi, AAP canodate from Ghaziabad, purportedly said in a video, in which she is having a conversation with members of the Muslim community.