Congress Lodges Complaint With ECI After PM Modi 'Links' Muslim Community With 'Infiltrators'

Congress delegation filed complaints with the ECI against PM Narendra Modi's remarks on alleged wealth distribution to Muslims. The complaints included allegations of communalism, and violation of election laws.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: A Congress delegation convened on Monday with the Election Commission of India (ECI), lodging a formal complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent statements alleging the party promised wealth redistribution in favour of Muslims using phrases like "infiltrators" and "those who have more children". Abhishek Manu Singhvi, a senior Congress leader, asserted, "17 complaints were submitted from our end, all of which are profoundly serious. The Election Commission should take decisive action regarding the PM's remarks."

Singhvi elaborated on the grievances, stating, "This was a crude statement in which a community was described by name and it was said that Congress would give everything to this community and this community was linked with infiltrators. And words like Mangalsutra have been used. They have attacked the identity of the Indian Constitution."

"We have asked the EC to state that this is the position in law, we will do in his respect, whatever we do with others...he has named a community, spoke about religion blatantly, he spoke about communal and community blatantly...he has clearly violated section 123...irrespective of the status of the person who has done this, appropriate action as in any other case, will and must follow shortly," he added.

Congress Complains To ECI Against Rejection Of Surat Candidate's Nomination

Among the grievances presented to the Election Commission, Singhvi highlighted five major issues, including alleged violations by Prime Minister Modi during his recent speeches in Rajasthan and the rejection of a Congress candidate's nomination in Surat, Gujarat which has paved the way for the BJP candidate to be elected to Lok Sabha unopposed.

Singhvi emphasised, "A day before the elections in Surat, four proposers of Congress together say that the signatures are not theirs, after which they go missing. The biggest thing is that all the opposition leaders withdrew their nominations. In such a situation, Surat elections should be postponed."

Furthermore, Singhvi disclosed that Rahul Gandhi will campaign in an area of Karnataka where elections have not yet taken place, seeking permission from the commission for the same.

Earlier in the day, in response to Prime Minister Modi's claims about the Congress manifesto, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh took to social media platform X to criticise Modi's policies. Ramesh stated, "Prime Minister Modi will go down in history as the PM who has overseen the largest sale and mortgage of the gold jewellery owned by Indian women."

Ramesh pointed out economic challenges faced by Indian households, attributing them to policies like demonetisation, GST, and the government's handling of the pandemic. He highlighted the distressing trend of households resorting to selling or pledging gold due to financial strain.

Furthermore, Ramesh highlighted alarming statistics, stating, "In February of 2024, gold loans crossed the Rs. 1 lakh crore mark for the first time in India's history."

Ramesh concluded by condemning the auctioning of women's gold collateral during the pandemic, attributing it to the government's alleged incompetence and negligence.

The attack was in reference to PM Modi's remark saying even the Mangalsutra of women won't be spared in the alleged wealth redistribution drive even as the grand old party has denied promising such a step.