Akhilesh urges Amitabh Bachchan not to campaign for Gujarat 'donkeys'

Raebareli (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Feb. 20 (ANI): Taking the level of political rivalry to a new height, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday appealed 'Sadi ke Mahanayak' (without actually naming Amitabh Bachchan) not to campaign for Gujarat 'donkeys.' "I would like to request the 'mahanayak' of the century (Amitabh Bachchan) not to campaign for donkeys of Gujarat. Those who have seen the advertisement will understand whom we are talking about," said Akhilesh while addressing a rally here. "Have you ever heard of campaigning for donkeys? Gujarat's people are doing campaigns for donkeys...then they accuse me of working only for kabristan (graveyard...)," he said in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'shamshan ghat-kabristan' comment. Apparently, Yadav was referring to Gujarat Tourism's advertisement featuring Amitabh Bachchan, popularly referred to as 'Sadi ka mahanayak', with the state's famed wild asses. Making a repetitive use of the word 'Donkey', Akhilesh took a jibe a Prime Minister Modi, saying if there would be campaign for donkeys also then how would the work be done. Continuing his tirade against the Prime Minister, Akhilesh said seeing the present situation one can make out in which direction is the country heading to. "Now there is advertisement on donkeys as well. Now you can see it for yourself that in which direction our country is going," he said. (ANI)