A video of Union Minister Maneka Gandhi is doing the rounds on social media. In the video, Gandhi appears to be threatening the Muslim community in Uttar Pradesh’s Sultanpur to vote for her or face the risk of not receiving her help as a lawmaker.

Gandhi will be contesting the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Sultanpur.

The Union Minister for Women and Child Development said: “I am winning, but if my victory is without Muslims, I will not feel good, because then there is a bitter feeling. If Muslims come for some work after that, I will think ‘what difference does it make’. Because employment is a negotiation, after all, isn’t that right? We are not Mahatma Gandhi’s children to keep giving without getting anything in return.”

She added: “I am extending a hand of friendship. You can ask anyone in my former constituency of Pilibhit about my work. If you think we have made a mistake anywhere, then don’t vote for us…I have already won this election, the rest is up to you. This is your chance to lay the foundation. When the election comes and this booth throws up 100 votes or 50 votes, and then you come to me for work we will see… do you all understand?”

Earlier, Bharatiya Janta Party leader Sakshi Maharaj had warned voters that he would curse them, if they didn’t vote in his favour.

Asian Age quoted Maharaj as saying, “I am a sanyasi (monk), if you make me win, I will win; otherwise will do bhajan and kirtan in a temple, but today I am here to seek your votes. I am here to beg at your door, if you refuse a sanyasi, I would take away the happiness of your family and will curse you.”

Maharaj is currently an MP from Unnao, which goes to polls during the fourth phase of the elections on April 29.