'Muslims are too secular,' says AAP's Shazia Ilmi in video

Lok Sabha Election 2014.

In a video posted on YouTube, Shazia Ilmi, a top leader of Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), is seen urging Muslim leaders, "I'm saying Muslims are very secular. Muslims need to be communal. A Muslim isn't communal - doesn't vote for his own. Arvind Kejriwal is one of you. You are too ...don't be this secular. Look after your own homes (interests)." NDTV cannot verify the authenticity of the video.

On its Twitter account, Ms Ilmi's party clarified, "AAP does not believe in this kind of politics nor does it endorse it."

Ms Ilmi told NDTV that her comments were "a play of words." She said, "I was making fun of this word 'secularism' which is used all the time. I said Muslims never think of themselves, they have become political slaves to a party."

The BJP now plans to complain against Ms Ilmi's remarks to the Election Commission. "Shazia Ilmi must give an explanation," said BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

In recent weeks, the national election has seen politicians using religion to court voters and making remarks designed to polarize votes, with the powerful Election Commission reacting swiftly. Azam Khan, a minister in Uttar Pradesh, has been banned from campaigning after a hate speech. Similar action was taken against the BJP's Amit Shah; after an assurance tha

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