India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being accused of hate speech for comments he made about Muslims at an election rally, referring to the religious community as "infiltrators." Nearly a billion people are eligible to cast ballots during the six weeks of voting, which started Friday.

New Delhi

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sparked controversy with comments made at an election rally, which have been denounced as hate speech towards Muslims. During a rally in Rajasthan state, he labeled Muslims as "infiltrators" and suggested that if the opposition Congress party were elected, they would prioritize Muslims for rights to India's assets. Modi's remarks implied that Muslims would unduly benefit from the country's wealth, to the detriment of others.

The opposition criticized Modi's statements, with a representative calling them "disgraceful” and a "nakedly communal appeal." Such comments come amidst the ongoing parliamentary elections in India, where nearly a billion people are eligible to vote over six weeks. Modi, who is seeking another term, has faced accusations from activists of diverting attention from significant issues like unemployment, which is reported to be at its highest in 45 years. 

Since Modi's election in 2014, there has been an increase in religious tensions, with a noted rise in attacks and violence against Muslims and their properties, primarily in states governed by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. This election sees a coalition of dozens of opposition parties aiming to challenge the incumbency of Modi and his party. Voting is scheduled to continue through to June 1, marking a critical moment for India's democratic process.



India's Modi accused of anti-Muslim hate speech amid election

Just days into India's elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has caused controversy. Addressing supporters in Rajasthan state, he referred to Muslims as infiltrators, saying if the opposition Congress party came to power again, Muslims would have first rights to India's assets. The earlier government said the Muslims will have the right over the resources of the country. What does this mean? This means they will gather all the wealth and give it to the people who have more children. They will distribute it among the infiltrators. Do you think your hard-earned money should be distributed to the infiltrators? Do you accept that? The opposition says Modi's comments are disgraceful. I'm sorry, this is a very disgraceful speech made by the Prime Minister. But you know the fact is that people realise that when he says the Congress party is going to take all your wealth and give it to the Muslims, that this is just a nakedly communal appeal which normally any civilised election commission would disallow and warn the candidate for speaking like this. Nearly a billion Indians are eligible to cast ballots in the parliamentary elections. Activists say Modi is trying to divert voter attention from the real issues. He has promised jobs and prosperity in the 2014 election, again in 2019 and now two terms are over and India is facing the worst unemployment rate in the last 45 years. Since coming to power in 2014, Modi has been accused of inflaming religious tensions between majority Hindus and Muslims who account for about 14% of the population. Attacks and violence targeting Muslim properties and religious sites have increased, as has anti-Muslim rhetoric. Most incidents happened in states held by the governing Bharatiya Janata Party. In a bid to challenge Modi and his party's dominance in these elections, dozens of opposition parties have united to form a coalition. Voting will continue until June the 1st. Hamza Mohammed, Al Jazeera.

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