'PM lowered dignity...': Opposition slams Modi's 'Congress will redistribute wealth' remark

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal says PM Modi's speech following the first phase of elections suggested 'a potential disappointment for many'.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in Rajasthan's Banswara poll rally evoked strong reactions from INDIA bloc leaders including Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and  AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi.

What did PM Modi say?

The PM said it the Congress comes to power, it would “redistribute wealth” of the people to Muslims. “"This 'urban Naxal' mindset, mothers and sisters, will not even leave your 'mangalsutra'. They can go to that level... The Congress manifesto says they will calculate the gold with mothers and sisters, get information about it, and then distribute that property. They will distribute it to whom - Manmohan Singh's government had said Muslims have the first right on the country's assets,” the PM said at the rally. He was alluding to a comment by former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in December 2006 at a meeting of the National Development Council.  The BJP also posted a video of Singh's speech from December 2006. "The Congress doesn't trust their own Prime Minister?" the BJP said.

Opposition reacts

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the PM for his remarks. According to Gandhi, the level of PM Modi's lies has fallen so much that out of fear, he now wants to divert the attention of the public from the issues. “Trends have started coming in regarding the immense support that Congress's 'Revolutionary Manifesto' is receiving. The country will now vote on its issues, vote for its employment, its family, and its future. India will not go astray!" Gandhi posted on X.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said no “Prime Minister has lowered the dignity of his post as much as he (Modi) has”.

“What Modi ji said is not only a hate speech but also a well thought out ploy to divert attention. Today the Prime Minister did what he has learnt from the values of the Sangh. Lying for power, making baseless references to things and making false accusations on opponents is the specialty of the training of RSS and BJP. The 140 crore people of the country are no longer going to fall prey to this lie," the Congress president said.

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said that PM Modi's speech following the first phase of elections suggested “a potential disappointment for many”.  “We respect the post of Prime Minister and the person holding that post but when the PM is not worthy of respect, the intellectuals in the country should raise their voice. Mohan Bhagwat is silent. Why is he silent?” said Sibal.

Meanwhile, Owaisi  said “since 2002 till this day, the only Modi guarantee has 'been to abuse Muslims and get votes”. “If one is talking about the country's wealth, one should know that under Modi's rule the first right to India's wealth has been of his wealthy friends. 1% of Indians own 40% of the country's wealth. Common Hindus are made to fear Muslims while their wealth is being used to enrich others,” he said.