The complaint received by the Election Commission (EC) against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech in Banswara, Rajasthan is currently under consideration. In his speech, Modi referred to the Congress manifesto and an old speech by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He warned people that the Congress party would redistribute citizens’ property to ‘infiltrators’ who had ‘more children’. This warning raised concerns among opposition parties, who approached the EC seeking action against the Prime Minister for making communal remarks and unverified allegations against Congress. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) also lodged a complaint, stating that Modi’s remarks were aimed at driving a wedge between Hindus and Muslims.
EC sources have confirmed that the complaint is being examined by the poll body. The EC is evaluating the speech from multiple angles, including whether it was a jibe against a particular minority community and a communal appeal not to vote for Congress. Additionally, they are assessing whether Modi was simply referring to an old speech made by his predecessor and juxtaposing it with the promises in Congress’s manifesto.
A former EC functionary commented on the matter, highlighting that Singh’s speech at the National Development Council meeting in 2006 acknowledged that Muslims had the first claim on resources. The speech is part of the official records. The comment on Congress’s manifesto, which mentions the redistribution of property, seems to be in reference to the party’s promise to conduct a caste survey and reduce income inequality.
The complaint has attracted significant attention, both from political parties and the public. The EC’s examination and subsequent decision on whether or not action is required will have implications for the ongoing election campaign. It will be interesting to see how the EC interprets Modi’s speech and whether it finds any violation of the Model Code of Conduct. The outcome will likely determine the political narrative surrounding the issue, with potential consequences for the Prime Minister and his party.
