Complaint Under Consideration: ECI Says After Complaints Against PM Modi's Communal Speech
After opposition parties and over 2,200 citizens filed complaints with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s communal speech regarding the wealth distribution during a rally in Rajasthan, the ECI has stated that the complaint is under consideration, according to reports.
ECI sources say “complaint against PM Modi under consideration”. https://t.co/V8abhdBqYJ
— Arvind Gunasekar (@arvindgunasekar) April 23, 2024
Earlier, it was reported that when asked to take action against PM Modi, an ECI spokesperson stated, “We decline to comment.”
Several opposition parties labelled the prime minister’s remarks as “hate speech” and sought action from the ECI against the BJP stalwart. On April 22, Congress members Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Gurdeep Singh Sappal met the ECI for referring to the Muslim community as “infiltrators” and “those who have more children.”
Polit members Brinda Karat and Delhi State Secretariat Pushpinder Singh Grewal of the CPI (M) filed a complaint against PM Modi for promoting enmity between communities and “intentionally and strategically” making statements threatening the unity of the nation. The Mandir Marg police station refused to accept the complaint. The CPI(M)’s letter has been sent to the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, instead.
Furthermore, a petition was signed by 2,209 citizens of India, stating that the speech made by PM Modi was “dangerous and a direct attack on the Muslims of India.” The letter was submitted to the EC, seeking action against Modi for violating the Model Code of Conduct.
The Congress stated that it was a “trial of the EC” too, as the polling authority “risks tarnishing its legacy and abandoning its constitutional duty by setting a precedent of helpless inaction that will go down in infamy.”
During an election rally in Banswara, Rajasthan, PM Modi claimed that Congress was aiming to redistribute the wealth of the people to Muslims, referring to the manifesto of the opposition party and former PM Manmohan Singh’s remark that the minority community had the first claim on the nation’s resources.
The former PM had made the remark after retired judge Rajinder Sachar, former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, led a committee examining the socio-economic condition of Muslim Indians, which revealed that the marginalised community faced conditions worse than any other group, including SCs and STs, making them the most socio-economically vulnerable group in the country. Additionally, he had also mentioned other marginalised communities, including SCs, STs, and other minorities.
