“Modi Accused of Using Hate Speech for Calling Muslims ‘Infiltrators’ at Indian Election Rally”

Hindu nationalism, once considered a fringe ideology in India, has become mainstream. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, one of India’s most polarizing political leaders, has been instrumental in advancing this cause.

India’s main opposition party accused Modi of using hate speech after he called Muslims “infiltrators” at an election rally. This was seen as incendiary rhetoric towards the minority faith and took place just days after the country started its lengthy general election.

Modi’s remarks on Sunday sparked intense criticism, as he was accused of promoting anti-Muslim tropes. The Congress party filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India on Monday, alleging that Modi violated rules against aggravating religious tensions.

At a campaign event in Rajasthan, Modi claimed that when the Congress party was in power, they stated that Muslims had the first claim over the country’s resources. If the party returns to power, he alleged, they will collect all of your wealth and redistribute it among those who have more children.

The Congress party’s president, Mallikarjun Kharge, described Modi’s comments as “hate speech,” while party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi labelled them “deeply objectionable.” The party demanded action from the Election Commission, which prohibits candidates from appealing to caste or communal sentiments to secure votes.

Critics argue that the rise of Hindu nationalism under Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has resulted in increased religious intolerance and sometimes violence. Modi’s comments on Sunday also referred to a 2006 statement by then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of the Congress party, which stated that India’s lower castes, tribes, women, and the Muslim minority should share equally in the country’s development.

In its complaint, the Congress party claimed that Modi and the BJP have frequently used religion and religious symbols in their election campaigns without facing repercussions. The party accused the Election Commission of failing to penalize Modi and the BJP for their violations of electoral laws.

The Election Commission can issue warnings and suspend candidates for some time over violations of the code of conduct. A spokesperson for the commission declined to comment.

During his speech, Modi also reiterated a Hindu nationalist argument that Muslims are outpacing the Hindu population by having more children. However, official data shows that fertility rates among Muslims have decreased rapidly in recent decades.

Despite allegations of hate speech and fostering religious division, Modi’s BJP has continued to frame Muslims as infiltrators and potential illegal migrants from neighbouring countries. Through it all, Modi has largely remained silent, with critics suggesting this has empowered his most extreme supporters and led to further hate speech against Muslims.