Local sources from India: Al Jazeera English, The Associated Press.
UK coverage: Sky News.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is facing backlash after referring to Muslims as ‘infiltrators’ during a campaign speech. The main opposition party, Congress, has reported Modi’s comments to the Election Commission, claiming they violate electoral law. Modi’s government has been accused of discrimination against Muslims in the past, but the government denies these allegations. India’s mammoth seven-week election is currently underway, with almost a billion people expected to cast their votes.
Modi’s comments came during a rally in the western state of Rajasthan, where he equated Muslims to ‘infiltrators’ and peddled anti-Muslim tropes. He suggested that if the opposition party, Congress, came to power, they would distribute the country’s wealth among ‘those who have more children’, implying Muslims. These remarks have sparked accusations of spreading hatred against Muslims and have drawn fierce criticism.
The Election Commission of India has received at least two complaints against Modi, calling for his election campaign to be suspended and for his arrest. The complaints were filed by a regional political party and a local non-profit organization. India’s election code prohibits parties and politicians from engaging in speeches and campaigns that perpetuate religious or caste differences. However, critics argue that election officials often act too slowly, especially when cases involve powerful government officials.
Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies have long portrayed India’s 200 million Muslims as outsiders and targeted Muslim asylum seekers and refugees from Bangladesh and Myanmar as ‘infiltrators’. They have also pushed a conspiracy theory that suggests Indian Muslims produce more children to eventually outnumber Hindus in the country. Government data, however, shows that the Muslim fertility rate in India is dropping the fastest among all communities.
While Modi has focused on his government’s claimed accomplishments in the economy and social development in recent years, his recent remarks mark a significant shift in his election pitch. Political commentators and analysts have described his comments as ‘the most inflammatory statement by a sitting prime minister in the recent history of India’.
Critics argue that Modi’s comments could instigate hate-fueled violence against Muslims, which has already been a growing problem under his government’s reign. Muslims in India have faced lynchings, boycotts of their businesses, and attacks on their places of worship. The opposition party, Congress, has accused Modi of using hate speech and called for action from the Election Commission.
Modi’s remarks were also seen as an attempt to divert attention from the opposition’s focus on the need for a caste census, which would highlight the discrimination faced by marginalized castes. By scapegoating Muslims, Modi aims to appeal to Hindu voters and portray Muslims as a threat to Hindu identity.
India’s general election, which began on April 19, is a crucial event for the country’s future. Modi and his BJP are expected to win, according to most surveys. However, his comments have raised concerns about the erosion of India’s tradition of diversity and secularism. The election results will be announced on June 4.
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