MODI’S CONTROVERSIAL Remarks Ignite Accusations of Hate Speech
— India’s opposition, the Congress party, has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using hate speech in his recent campaign remarks. At a rally, Modi labeled Muslims as “infiltrators,” sparking significant backlash. The Congress party lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission of India, claiming Modi’s comments could worsen religious tensions.
Critics argue that since Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took power, India’s commitment to diversity and secularism has weakened. They claim the BJP fosters religious intolerance and occasionally incites violence. However, the BJP insists its policies serve all Indians equally and are not biased against any group.
At a Rajasthan campaign event, Modi criticized the Congress party’s past governance for prioritizing Muslims in resource allocation. He suggested that if re-elected, Congress would redistribute wealth to those he termed as “infiltrators,” questioning whether citizens’ earnings should be used in this way.
Congress party leaders have condemned Modi’s statements as divisive and dangerous. Mallikarjun Kharge called them “hate speech,” while spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi labeled them "deeply objectionable.