New Delhi: Narendra Modi, the right-wing Prime Minister of India’s extremist party BJP, has openly begun expressing anti-Muslim sentiments in his electoral rallies, maintaining his traditional anti-Muslim stance.
According to international news agencies, speaking at an election rally, Modi, backed by Indian Hindu extremists, openly denigrated Muslims, calling them ‘infiltrators’, thereby shattering India’s claims of the largest secular democracy. He has begun to incite Hindus against Muslims for political gains.
In an election rally in Rajasthan, Modi criticized the opposition party Congress, and stated that if Congress comes to power, it would distribute the nation’s wealth among those with many children (a stereotype about Indian Muslims), and referring to Muslims as infiltrators. Modi recalled that during the Manmohan Singh government, it was stated that Muslims had the first right over India’s wealth.
The BJP and its allies have perpetuated a conspiracy theory claiming that Indian Muslims intentionally have more children to surpass the Hindu population. However, official statistics reveal that the fertility rate among Muslims in India is declining more rapidly than in any other community, having nearly halved over the last thirty years.
In response, the Indian opposition party Congress denounced Modi’s hate-filled speech, accusing him of always attempting to spread hatred and divert attention from his failures. Congress has requested the Election Commission to investigate the violation of election rules.
According to reports from Al Jazeera, election officials in Rajasthan received complaints demanding that Modi’s campaign be halted and that he be arrested for violating the electoral code of conduct, which prohibits divisive speech based on religion or caste.
Historically, Modi has been associated with promoting such stereotypes, particularly following the 2002 Gujarat riots. Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with their allies, routinely portray India’s 200 million Muslims as outsiders and a demographic threat, exacerbated by unfounded claims of high Muslim fertility intended to overpower Hindu majorities.
It is noteworthy that the first phase of general elections in India began on April 19, with polling completed in 102 seats across 21 states. The elections, contested by over 1600 candidates, registered a voter turnout of 59.71 percent. The seven-phase elections will continue until June 1, with results being announced on June 4.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription
