(Image source from: Change.org)

Union Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi was on Friday issued a show-cause notice by the Election Commission over her remarks at an election rally after was seen on camera almost threatening the Muslim community in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh that she would not work for them if they did not vote for her.

Sultanpur's District Magistrate issued the notice after the Election Commission took cognizance of the matter and asked Gandhi to explain her remarks, ANI reported. Maneka later clarified that her remarks were taken out of context.

The Bharatiya Janata Party leader while addressing an election rally in Turab Khani village said that she would not give jobs to Muslims if they did not vote for her. She also said that she would not like it if she won without the support of the Muslims.

“This is important. I am winning. Because of people’s help, their love, I am winning. If my win will be without Muslims, I don’t like it because, this much I will tell you, that the heart becomes sour (dil khatta ho jaata hai). Then when a Muslim person comes for work, I think let it be, how does it matter. After all, giving work is also a negotiation. Am I right or no? It’s not like we’re all the sixth child of Mahatma Gandhi that we come and keep on giving, and then take a beating during the elections. Am I right or not? You’ll have to recognize this. This victory will be with or without you, and you’ll have to spread this everywhere,” the BJP leader was heard saying.

Gandhi's three-minute speech went viral on social media, leading to outrage, with many calling the remark blatantly communal. The Congress has termed Gandhi's statement "scandalous".

The Member of Parliament later clarified that a truncated version of her speech was made public.

“If you listen to the whole speech... a media channel has shown my incomplete speech and it is out of context. If you see my full speech you will see that it was full of love,” she said, adding that when PM announced various schemes in the past 5 years, such discrimination never happened.

Criticized over the comments, Maneka Gandhi later accused the media of twisting her comments. "I love Muslims... I only meant to say that I am winning the elections and their participation would be like 'daal pe chaunka' (seasoning)."

#WATCH Union Minister Maneka Gandhi reacts on her remark during her speech before a gathering of Muslims in Sultanpur y'day. She says, "I had called a meeting of our minority cell...If you read my complete speech, channel is running that one sentence out of context & incomplete. pic.twitter.com/OaZ3h8VqTt

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 12, 2019

Maneka Gandhi, the lawmaker from Pilibhit, began her campaign from the Sultanpur seat about 10 days ago. The seat is currently held by her son Varun Gandhi. But this election, Varun has shifted back to Pilibhit, a seat he won in 2009. Maneka Gandhi has won the Pilibhit seat six times.

By Sowmya Sangam