MUMBAI:  Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Ajit Pawar who has openly denounced Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's controversial 'batenge to katenge' remark, has once again said that he cannot endorse slogans. 

In an interview with the newsagency ANI, Pawar, stated, ""A Chief Minister from another state (referring to Yogi Adityanath) came here and said 'batenge to katenge,' but I told him that this is not Uttar Pradesh—this kind of rhetoric doesn’t work here," and added, "I have opposed this slogan, and even senior BJP leaders have criticized it."

The statement by Yogi Adityanath, which translates to "if we are divided, we will be destroyed," has sparked significant debate within the political landscape of Maharashtra.  

Pawar who is part of the ruling Mahayuti political coalition consisting of three parties the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena led by the Eknath Shinde faction and his own party the NCP along with smaller partners such as Republican Party of India (Athawale), Rashtriya Samaj Paksha and many others has said that he disagrees with the the divisive rhetoric, emphasizing that such statements do not resonate with the progressive values of Maharashtra. He highlighted that the state has always followed the path laid down by great reformers like Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, and Mahatma Jyotiba Phule.

The remark has also caused friction within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, with Pawar's comments indicating a growing rift. He stated that while such rhetoric might find acceptance in other states, it is not suitable for Maharashtra. This sentiment was echoed by other political leaders, including BJP's national secretary Pankaja Munde and Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Chavan, who also criticized the remark.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, however, defended the slogan, arguing that it highlights the importance of unity among Hindus and reflects the public's mood. Despite the internal disagreements, the BJP continues to stand by the slogan, with Adityanath reiterating it during recent rallies in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.

The slogan  ‘batenge to katenge’ was used by Yogi Adityanath first in August when he called for Hindu unity in Bangladesh amid violence against Hindus and he repeated the slogan at a recent election rally in Maharashtra. Following this Prime Minister Narendra Modi also introduced another one, ‘ek hain toh safe hain’ (we are safe if united), which he used during his rallies in the state.