Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, questioning whether the concept of ‘vote jihad’ or ‘Ram Rajya’ would prevail in the upcoming elections. Addressing a public gathering, Modi emphasized the crucial moment India finds itself in, urging voters to ponder over the implications of such a polarizing strategy.
In his address, Modi condemned the likening of political opposition to ‘jihad,’ drawing parallels to the threats posed by terrorists from across the border. He criticized the Congress for allegedly promoting ‘vote jihad,’ which he described as an attempt to consolidate votes along religious lines against his government. Modi raised concerns about the ethicality and legality of such tactics within the framework of democracy and the constitution.
The Prime Minister’s remarks followed controversial statements made by Maria Alam, a leader from the Samajwadi Party and niece of senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid. Alam’s call for ‘vote jihad’ stirred a heated debate, with BJP leaders accusing the coalition led by the INDIA bloc for her remarks. She made these statements while campaigning for the INDIA bloc’s candidate in Uttar Pradesh’s Farrukhabad constituency, resulting in legal action against her.
Modi didn’t limit his criticism to the Congress alone but also targeted the INDIA bloc over a reservation controversy in Karnataka. He highlighted a decision by the Congress government in Karnataka to extend reservation benefits to Muslims, a move he described as undermining the intended beneficiaries of OBC reservations. Modi portrayed this action as a precedent for nationwide implementation, posing a threat to marginalized communities such as tribals, backward classes, and Dalits.
Furthermore, Modi pointed fingers at a leader from the INDIA alliance, previously convicted in the ‘fodder scam,’ who allegedly advocated for providing complete reservation benefits to Muslims. He warned against the implications of such a proposal, suggesting it could potentially deprive other deserving groups of their entitled reservations.