As political tensions rise, the Election Commission has chosen to remain tight-lipped regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent speech, which has provoked strong reactions from across the political spectrum.
The poll panel has opted not to comment on the Prime Minister’s address delivered on Sunday in Banswara, Rajasthan, where Modi insinuated that a Congress-led government would implement policies redistributing wealth to Muslims.
Modi drew on former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement, alleging that the minority community was entitled to the nation’s resources.
In his speech, Modi boldly declared, “Earlier, when their (Congress) government was in power, they had said that Muslims have the first right on the country’s assets. This implies that this wealth will be distributed among those who have more children.”
The Congress promptly responded, challenging Modi to substantiate his claims with evidence from their manifesto.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the Prime Minister’s remarks as a “hate speech”, particularly in light of the perceived victory of the INDIA bloc in the first round.
Kharge further criticised Modi for aligning himself with the values of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition, accusing him of resorting to falsehoods and baseless accusations against political rivals.
In defence of Modi, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia maintained that the Prime Minister was merely echoing the sentiments of the populace and speaking candidly.
Bhatia accused the Opposition of reacting strongly due to Modi’s unveiling of their past, which had struck a chord with the public.
While the Opposition decried Modi’s statements as divisive, the BJP stood firm, asserting that the Prime Minister was reflecting the true sentiments of the nation.
The Election Commission’s decision to remain silent further intensifies the already charged political atmosphere, setting the stage for heightened confrontation in the run-up to the elections.
