On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed that if the Congress party comes to power, it would allocate the nation's resources preferentially to "those who have more children" and to "intruders."
Speaking at a rally in Banswara, Rajasthan, Modi referenced a previous statement by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh suggesting that minorities should be the primary recipients of the country's resources.
"The Congress party's agenda involves appraising and recording the gold owned by women in the country, and then redistributing this wealth. Who will benefit from this redistribution? According to the previous government under Manmohan Singh, Muslims would be prioritized for the distribution of national assets," Modi stated.
The remarks were quickly criticized by the Congress, with leader Pawan Khera denouncing Modi for allegedly stirring communal tensions with his misleading comments.
Khera also posted a video response, refuting the claims and challenging Modi to prove any reference to Hindus or Muslims in the Congress manifesto. "Show us where it mentions Hindu or Muslim. There's nothing of the sort," he declared.
The BJP countered by posting a video on its official X account from a speech on December 9, 2006, by Dr. Manmohan Singh, where he emphasized the need for policies that would allow minorities, especially Muslims, to benefit more fully from development programs.
"This statement from Dr. Singh clearly illustrates what the Congress has long been advocating," claimed a social media user sharing the clip, sparking a lively debate over Singh's comments.
Some commentators argued that Singh's remarks during the 52nd meeting of the National Development Council in New Delhi affirmed the BJP's accusations of the Congress engaging in appeasement politics.
Meanwhile, Khera attacked Modi's comments as trivial and indicative of a flippant attitude. "Your comments reveal a superficiality in both your personal mindset and your political philosophy," Khera retorted. He defended the Congress manifesto as inclusive, aimed at supporting youth, women, farmers, tribals, the middle class, and workers. "Our manifesto is a testament to our commitment to all sections of society. If you continue down this path of dishonesty, your legacy will be disregarded," he concluded.
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