Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is facing widespread backlash after referring to Muslims as “infiltrators” during a campaign speech over the weekend.
Congress, the main opposition party Mr Modi The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday informed the Election Commission about the prime minister’s “deeply objectionable” comments, saying they violated the election law.
The comments were made by Hindu nationalist leader, who is seeking a rare third consecutive term since he was first elected in 2014during a speech on Sunday, just days after India’s mammoth seven-week election began.
Nearly one billion people in 21 states and territories are expected to cast their ballots in the next 40 days, with results due on June 4.
In his speech, Modi said Congress’s election manifesto promised to confiscate and redistribute Indians’ wealth, which it denies.
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Modi said that if the party followed through on statements made in 2006 by then Congress Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the Muslim minority should have “first right over resources” to share the fruits of development, then wealth would be would distribute among the “infiltrators” and those who would have “more children.”
Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said Modi’s “deeply objectionable” statement violated sections of the law that prohibit candidates from asking people to vote or abstaining from voting for anyone on the grounds of “religion,” community” or “religious symbols”.
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He said he wanted the Electoral Commission to “declare that this is the legal situation.”
Modi’s government has been repeatedly accused of discrimination against Muslims, and civil society, opposition groups and some foreign governments have raised concerns about decisions they say are aimed at encouraging discrimination and keeping the BJP in office. the power.
The government has denied all allegations and Modi has said he works for the good of all, including India’s 200 million Muslims, who make up the world’s third-largest Muslim population.
Modi has promised a bright economic future for all, but many Muslims remain unconvinced.
Voter Abdul, 56, said: “Before we lived together, today we are all separated. Now elections are based on religion. This is wrong.”