2024-04-23 21:09:03
3 hours ago
India’s opposition has criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “anti-Muslim” statements following he told a crowd of supporters that his opponents, if they took power, would distribute the people’s wealth to “foreigners”.
Modi added that the opposition Congress party wants to distribute wealth to “those who have many children.”
The Indian prime minister’s statements were widely seen as a reference to India’s Muslim minority.
The Congress Party, one of India’s largest opposition parties, objected to Modi’s claims, made days following the start of the general election.
Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party government has often been criticized for targeting minorities in India, particularly Muslims.
Human rights groups say they face discrimination and attacks, and are forced to live as “second-class” citizens under the Modi government, an allegation the BJP denies.
The first of seven stages of the general elections began on April 19 and the results will be announced on June 4.
Modi made the statements on Sunday, during an election rally in the state of Rajasthan, while speaking regarding the Congress Party’s manifesto.
Modi said, “Their previous government (i.e. Congress Party government) declared that Muslims had the first right to the wealth of the nation. »
The Indian Prime Minister added: “This means they (the Congress Party) will collect the wealth of the people and distribute it to whom?
He said they would distribute it to “those who have many children, they would distribute it to foreigners. Should you give your hard-earned money to foreigners?”
Comment on the photo, Manmohan Singh (left) and Prime Minister Modi
In his statements, Modi referred to a speech given by former Congress Party Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2006, in which he spoke regarding empowering minorities so that their members can participate in development achievements .
However, in his speech delivered 18 years ago and cited by Modi, Manmohan Singh did not say that Muslims had the first right to the country’s wealth.
Manmohan Singh had said in 2006: “By introducing new schemes and schemes, we must ensure that minorities, especially Muslims, can progress and benefit from development. Everyone should have the right to resources. »
Muslims in Indian society are often portrayed as having many children, but experts believe this claim is distorted and exposes society to harm.
There was no immediate comment from Modi or the Bharatiya Janata Party on the opposition’s criticism, and the Election Commission of India, which oversees elections, declined to comment on the matter.
Reviews and questions
Comment on the photo, The Code of Conduct prohibits uttering hate speech or raising slogans once morest any religious or ethnic group.
Opposition leaders from various parties criticized the Prime Minister’s statements and several questions were raised regarding the role of the Election Commission in the matter.
The Congress Party has filed 16 complaints with the Election Commission once morest the Bharatiya Janata Party over violations of the Election Code of Conduct.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge defended his party’s statement, cited by Modi in his speech, saying it addressed “every Indian” and spoke of equality and justice for all.
He termed Modi’s remarks as panic-filled ‘hate speech’ and a ploy to divert people’s attention away from the opposition following the latter performed better than the BJP in the first phase of elections. elections.
“No prime minister in Indian history has downplayed the dignity of his office as much as Modi,” he said.
“Modi has described today’s Muslims as outsiders, as people with many children,” said Asaduddin Owaisi, president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, adding that since 2002 the only “guarantee” of Modi was to “offend Muslims and ensure he gets votes”. .”
image source, Reuters
This comes at a time when over 17,000 citizens have demanded that the Election Commission take action once morest Prime Minister Modi over this ‘hate speech’.
According to the electoral conduct rules enforced by the Election Commission, it is not permitted to use religious symbols during election campaigns, nor to submit voting applications on a religious, sectarian or class basis.
The Code of Conduct also prohibits uttering hate speech or raising slogans once morest any religious or ethnic group.
Based on these rules, the opposition and others on social media have demanded legal action once morest Prime Minister Modi.
Opposition Congress Party figure Jairam Ramesh said, “We have filed 16 complaints with the Election Commission regarding violations of the Code of Conduct and Representation of the People, 1951 and Supreme Court decisions. »
The Congress Party expressed hope that action will be taken and immediately acted on these complaints, which also include the BJP candidate offering money to voters, use of images of Prime Minister Modi to promote the government plans, the promotion of religious images during elections. campaign, and the BJP’s use of army imagery in… I wore it.
What action will the Electoral Commission take?
image source, Reuters
Comment on the photo, Teams work in election control rooms across India
There has been no comment from the Election Commission on these complaints so far, and there is no information indicating that the Election Commission intends to issue an opinion or take any action regarding Modi’s statements.
Earlier in March, opposition MP Saket Gokhale had filed a complaint once morest Prime Minister Modi with the Election Commission for violation of electoral conduct rules.
The MP said Modi used an Indian Air Force helicopter to take part in an election rally.
However, no information is available regarding the Electoral Commission’s decision to pursue this complaint.
Some compare the Election Commission’s inaction in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s affairs with its contrasting stance on opposition activities.
Recently, following receiving a complaint regarding controversial statements made by opposition Congress figure Randeep Surjewala, the Election Commission took action by banning him for 48 hours.
Reactions to Modi’s statements
Jagdeep Chowkar of the Association for Democratic Reforms, an election watchdog, said in a letter to the Election Commission that Modi’s remarks violated provisions of the Code of Conduct and Representation of the People and the Penal Code Indian, and demanded immediate action.
Hilal Ahmed of the Center for Development Studies called the statements unprecedented and said: “Prime Minister Modi has been very careful in the past regarding using words related to Hinduism or Hindutva doctrine. » [وهي حركة دينية قومية متشددة ترى أن الهند يجب أن تكون لأصحاب الديانة الهندوسية فقط]Or Muslims. »
He added: “During his 10-year tenure, he has used the word Hindutva or Muslim three or four times, but that does not mean he is not hinting to his voters regarding what he is trying to say.”
“The BJP has three types of voters. The first are the guaranteed voters, the second are those who previously voted for other parties and now vote for the BJP, and the third are the swing voters who vote for any Who.” » Ahmed said. At such an important time, following the decline in votes.
Hilal Ahmed believes that there are social protection plans, development projects, etc. in the BJP manifesto, but he (Modi) did not mention Hindutva supporters much, so this latest speech will have a significant impact on voting during the remaining period.
Opposition leaders also reacted sharply to Modi’s statements.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said: “What Modi said is hate speech. It is a deliberate ploy to divert attention… Our statement is for every Indian. It speaks regarding equality for all. It speaks of justice for all.”
Left leader Sitaram Yechury called Modi’s statements a “terrible thing”, adding that the silence of the Election Commission was very worrying.
“Modi’s provocative speech is a blatant violation of the Code of Conduct and Supreme Court rulings on hate speech,” he said.
The Communist Party of India also called Modi’s statements “extremely toxic, bigoted and hate-filled, aimed at inciting enmity on religious grounds among Indians.”
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