THE Indian opposition has accused prime minister Narendra Modi of making a “divisive” speech in an election rally in the north-western state of Rajasthan on April 21 where he allegedly targeted a religious group as “infiltrators” and claimed that the opposition Indian National Congress would give away all the “hard-earned money” to the ones “who have more children”.

Modi, who was speaking in the state’s Banswara district, allegedly tried to mobilise public opinion against the Congress. He even accused Congress of claiming that minority Muslims have the first right over the country’s resources.

The PM, who is seeking a rare third straight term in office in this election, claimed that the opposition party was planning to gather people’s wealth and distribute it among those who have more children.

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Modi also said that the government of his predecessor Manmohan Singh had claimed that the Muslims have the first right to the nation’s assets.

“When they were ruling, the party said that Muslims have the first right over the country’s wealth. Who will you distribute it to? To those who have more children? Or infiltrators? Is this acceptable?” he asked.

He even said that the Congress would not spare even the women’s ‘mangalsutras’ (sacred necklace worn by married Hindu women) if they came to power.

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Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party also shared a 22-second video of Singh’s speech from December 2006 which he delivered at a meeting of the National Development Council on the government’s fiscal priorities.

April 2009: In the run up to Lok Sabha election, Dr Manmohan Singh, reiterated his statement that minorities, especially poor Muslims, should get priority when it comes to the nation’s resources. He categorically stated that he stood by his earlier assertion that Muslims should… pic.twitter.com/sNTYa5WSfM

— BJP (@BJP4India) April 26, 2024

Alarmed by Modi’s speech, thousands of Indians wrote two letters to the Election Commission of India on Monday (22), seeking action against the prime minister for his remarks.

Some petitioners called it a “dangerous and a direct attack on Muslims of India”.

The Congress also moved the commission over the remarks.

The president of the Indian National Congress, Mallikarjun Kharge, took to X on Sunday to call out Modi’s hate speech, saying that it was a “ploy to divert the focus of the people.” 

He further clarified that his party’s manifesto is “for every Indian” and seeks to be the torch-bearer of equality and justice “for all”.

Asaduddin Owaisi, leader of All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen and a parliamentarian, said on X, “Modi today called Muslims infiltrators and people with many children.”

“Since 2002 till this day, the only Modi guarantee has been to abuse Muslims and get votes,” he added.

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