Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent election speech in Banswara, Rajasthan has sparked controversy due to his remarks about Muslims. The Opposition bloc INDIA has accused him of using this speech as a means to divert attention from more pressing issues. In his speech, PM Modi referred to a “urban Naxal” mindset and claimed that they would not even spare the sacred “mangalsutra” worn by married women. He further alleged that the Congress manifesto stated that they would calculate the gold possessed by mothers and sisters, gather information about it, and then distribute the property accordingly. PM Modi also claimed that the previous government led by Manmohan Singh had stated that Muslims have the first right on the country’s assets. He questioned whether hard-earned money should be given to infiltrators and whether governments have the right to confiscate property earned through hard work. The BJP supported PM Modi’s claims by sharing a 22-second video of Dr. Singh’s speech from 2006. The party questioned whether the Congress trusted their own Prime Minister.
During his speech, PM Modi made a subtle reference to a statement made by former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in December 2006 at a meeting of the National Development Council regarding the government’s fiscal priorities. This incident had also sparked a major controversy, leading the then Prime Minister’s office to issue a clarification in response to what they deemed as a deliberate and mischievous misinterpretation.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) at that time, Dr Singh had stated, “I believe our collective priorities are clear: agriculture, irrigation and water resources, health, education, critical investment in rural infrastructure, and the essential public investment needs of general infrastructure, along with programmes for the upliftment of SC/STs, Other Backward Classes, minorities, and women and children.”
The PMO further emphasized the need to revitalize the component plans for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and the importance of devising innovative plans to empower minorities, particularly the Muslim minority, to ensure their equitable participation in the benefits of development. They also highlighted that the reference to “first claim on resources” by the Prime Minister encompassed all the priority areas mentioned above, including programs aimed at uplifting SCs, STs, OBCs, women, children, and minorities.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in response to PM Modi’s criticism of Dr Singh, stated on the microblogging platform X that the Prime Minister is attempting to shift the focus of the public away from important matters.
Mr. Gandhi expressed that the nation will now participate in voting to address its concerns, including employment, family, and the future. He emphasized that India will not deviate from its path. In a video statement, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera criticized PM Modi for continuously spreading falsehoods in order to secure electoral victories. Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party and a member of the opposition bloc INDIA, also condemned PM Modi’s speech. He highlighted that not only the country but the entire world is aware of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s habit of lying, citing his false claims about the Congress’s ‘Nyay Patra’ and former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh as examples of his unethical political tactics. AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi strongly criticized the Prime Minister’s comments, stating that Modi referred to Muslims as infiltrators and individuals with many children. Owaisi pointed out that since 2002, Modi has consistently targeted and abused Muslims for political gain. He also highlighted the unequal distribution of wealth in India, with 1% of the population owning 40% of the country’s wealth under Modi’s leadership. Owaisi emphasized that while common Hindus are made to fear Muslims, their own wealth is being used to enrich others. The first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, which consists of seven phases, took place on Friday, with the results scheduled to be announced on June 4.