Congress moves EC over PM Modi's 'wealth redistribution' remark

On April 21, PM Modi made a statement suggesting that if the Congress were to come into power, there might be a redistribution of wealth favoring Muslims.

The Congress, on April 22, called upon the Election Commission (EC) to address the Prime Minister's statements, labeling them as "divisive," "malicious," and targeting a specific religious group. During a meeting with the EC, a delegation of Congress leaders submitted complaints against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging violations of the model code of conduct (MCC) and directives of the poll panel, PTI has reported.

"The Prime Minister has to be held accountable by the ECI for the brazen trampling of the Model Code of Conduct as well as the whole gamut of offences- electoral and otherwise- committed by him and his party," the delegation stated after meeting with the EC.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, while interacting with the press following the party delegation's meeting with the EC, said, "We respect the office PM Modi holds; he is as much our PM as yours or the BJP. The higher the position he holds, the more the obligation he holds to exercise restraint. Unfortunately, the statement he quoted, it is seriously objectionable. We can never expect this from the PM. We would pray to him with folded hands to withdraw these comments and clarify", as cited by ANI.

Addressing a rally in Rajasthan's Banswara, PM Modi asserted that if Congress were to come to power, it would redistribute the wealth of the common man to "infiltrators." He suggested that Congress intended to allocate resources to "those who have many children."

The Opposition has strongly criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his recent remarks on April 21 at an election rally.

Widely interpreted as targeting India's Muslim minority, PM Modi's comments have created an uproar among Opposition parties.  The Congress, while refuting refuted these allegations, has strongly criticised the Prime Minister's remarks on the "redistribution of wealth".

Several opposition leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, former Union Minister Kapil Sibal, and AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi, have lashed out at the recent remarks by PM Modi.

Congress leader and Wayanad MP, Rahul Gandhi, took to microblogging site X and wrote, "Following the setback in the first phase of voting, Narendra Modi's reliance on deceit appears to have intensified to the extent that he is now attempting to distract the public from pertinent issues out of fear. There are emerging indications of substantial backing for the Congress's 'Revolutionary Manifesto', signaling a shift in trends".

AIMIM Chief Owaisi also took to X, voicing his opinion on the same, "Today, Modi referred to Muslims as infiltrators and criticised those with many children. Since 2002, his consistent strategy has been to target Muslims for votes. However, when discussing the nation's wealth, it's essential to recognize that under Modi's governance, the primary beneficiaries have been his affluent associates. Currently, 1 percent of Indians possess 40 percent of the nation's wealth. While instilling fear of Muslims among ordinary Hindus, their wealth is being utilised to benefit others".

Congress president Kharge, strongly criticising the PM, said, "Modi's recent remarks are not just a hateful speech but also a calculated tactic to divert attention. Today, the Prime Minister employed strategies learned from the principles of the Sangh. Fabricating falsehoods for political gain, making unfounded references, and leveling false allegations against opponents are hallmarks of the RSS and BJP's training. However, the 1.4 billion citizens of the nation are no longer susceptible to these falsehoods. While the Congress's judicial system is rooted in truth, it appears that the authoritarian throne, reminiscent of Goebbels, is now trembling".

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Sibal remarked that PM Modi's speech implied a lack of success for his party in the first phase of elections, which might leave many feeling disillusioned. He slammed the Prime Minister's claims, stating that minorities in India are viewed as outsiders, questioning the nature of such politics and cultural attitudes.

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Thiruvananthapuram MP, Shashi Tharoor, in an interaction with the media, stated, "The speech delivered by the Prime Minister is deemed highly disgraceful. His statement suggests that the Congress party would redistribute wealth to Muslims is a blatantly communal appeal. Such rhetoric, which lacks decency, would typically be disallowed by any civilised Election Commission, with candidates being warned against making such remarks", ANI has reported.

Samajwadi Party Chief, Akhilesh Yadav, also part of the Opposition INDIA bloc, said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's penchant for falsehoods is not only recognised within the country but also internationally. His spreading of misinformation about the Congress's 'Nyay Patra' and former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh exemplifies the extent of dirty politics at play".

On April 21, PM Modi made a statement suggesting that if the Congress were to come into power, there might be a redistribution of wealth favoring Muslims. He referred to a previous statement by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh regarding the minority community's priority access to the country's resources.