Twist: Shazia Ilmi takes U-turn from 'secular Muslims' remark

New Delhi, April 23: A day after her controversial remark on

, Aam AAdmi Party (

) leader

took an U-turn on Wednesday, April 23. Ilmi claimed that her statement on "secular Muslims should become communal" was just a "sarcasm".

Defending her controversial remark, which has been circulated through a video, Ilmi said, "I am shocked to see that a statement like this can be so distorted. I was speaking sarcastically."

"The point I was making was that the Muslim community for long has been used in the name of secularism by political parties," the AAP leader added.

I was shocked to see the controversy, was speaking sarcastically: Ilmi

According to the 79-second video that went viral on the internet, Imli is seen interacting with Muslim leaders and asking them to be communal in the Lok Sabha elections. "You need to think of yourself and your community. Muslims need to be communal," she is seen saying in the video.

While AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal refused to comment on the controversy, his aide Manish Sisodia said, "Have seen Shazia Ilmi's video, she shouldn't have made these remarks." Meanwhile, other political party leaders including Congress and BJP leaders raised demand for Ilmi's resignation.

Ilmi, with AAP ticket, is contesting from Noida, Uttar Pradesh. She is fighting against her brother Rasid Ilmi who filed his nomination from RK Puram as an Independent candidate.

Watch the video:

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