NEW DELHI: India’s main opposition Congress party petitioned the Elec­tion Commission on Mon­day to act against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making what it said were “deeply objectionable” comments about Mus­lims that violated election laws.

Modi, who is seeking a rare third consecutive te­rm, referred to Muslims as “infiltrators” during a campaign speech on Sun­day, drawing widespread criticism from opposition groups.

In his speech, Modi said the Congress election manifesto promised to confiscate and redistribute the wealth of Indians, which it denies.

Modi said if the party adhered to remarks in 2006 of then Congress prime minister Manmo­han Singh that minority Muslims should have the “first claim on resources” to share in the fruits of development, then wealth would be distributed to “infiltrators” and those who have “more children”.

They have also criticised Muslims for their higher birth rates and invoked fears that India’s Muslim population would overtake that of its majority Hindus.

Congress leader Abhi­shek Manu Singhvi said Modi’s “deeply objectionable” statement violated sections of the law that prohibit candidates from asking people to vote or refrain from voting for anyone on the grounds of “religion”, “community” or “religious symbols”.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2024