Hate Speech: Over 2,200 Citizens Write To Election Commission Demanding Action Against PM Modi
Marking a protest against the recent controversial comment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Rajasthan rally, over 2,200 citizens have submitted a letter to the Election Commission seeking action against Modi for violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Modi on Sunday in his speech said that if Congress comes into power, they could redistribute the nation’s wealth among the “infiltrators” and “those who have more children”, misquoting a statement said by former prime minister Manmohan Singh regarding the minority community’s access to the country’s resources.
A group in its petition to the poll panel wrote that the prime minister while campaigning as the BJP star Parcharak, in his speech on April 21 in Rajasthan has made remarks that disturbed the sentiments of millions of Constitution respecting citizens of India. “The speech is dangerous and a direct attack on the Muslims of India”, they stated.
The petition was signed by 2,209 persons, reports scroll.in.
The citizens group in their petition pointed out to the Election Commission that Modi’s use of pejorative language against Muslims in a bid to secure votes “seriously undermines India’s stature as the ‘Mother of Democracy’ in the world”.
Further, they added that it is the failure of the Election Commission to take any action against such hate speech and this will thus “undermine its credibility and autonomy that has been safeguard and upheld by a series of exemplary officer before you”.
Modi on Sunday referred to the remark of the Congress leader Manmohan Singh”s speech made on December 9, 2006, when he addressed a meeting of the National Development Council.
Singh in his speech said that the country’s priority were to uplift the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, minorities and women and children.
Modi in his purported speech said, “When the Congress-led government was in power, they had said that Muslims have the first right over the country’s assets. This means that they will distribute wealth to those who have more children and those who are infiltrators. Is this acceptable to you?”
Another letter by the Samvidhan Bacchao Nagrik Abhiyan signed by more than 17,400 persons, alleged that Modi had “blatantly violated this code [Model Code of Conduct]” and the Representation of the People Act, 1951, by making a speech “aiming at not only appealing to ‘communal feelings’ but also instigating and aggravating hatred in the Hindus against Muslims”.
They also alleged that Modi has equated the Muslim community to a population which produces more children and infiltrators.
