28 Apr. 24: In defiance of a notice issued by the Election Commission of India, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) star campaigners, including J.P. Nadda, Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and Adityanath, persist in amplifying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s divisive rhetoric. Despite the absence of any mention in the Congress manifesto regarding the redistribution of wealth among communities, BJP’s leading figures continue to propagate misleading claims from the document.
Addressing a gathering, J.P. Nadda echoed Modi’s sentiments, accusing the Congress of seeking to “snatch the rights of SC, ST, and OBC” and allocate them to Muslims. “Congress and the INDIA alliance’s hidden agenda is to snatch the rights of the SC, ST, and OBC and give them to Muslims,” Nadda asserted.
Likewise, other BJP leaders such as Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh have followed suit, misleadingly referring to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s 2006 speech. Rajnath Singh, speaking at a rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Dadri, cited Singh’s alleged statement that “the first right to the country’s resources is of the minorities and especially the Muslims.”
The Election Commission’s notice, sent to both the BJP and the Congress, highlighted violations of the Model Code of Conduct by their star campaigners. However, the BJP’s continued propagation of Modi’s divisive rhetoric remains unabated, despite the Commission’s intervention.
At various rallies, BJP leaders have reiterated Modi’s inflammatory remarks, including accusations that the Congress intends to implement Sharia law and redistribute property among minorities. Adityanath, at a rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Etawah, claimed that the Congress and the Samajwadi Party seek to provide reservations for Muslims, further deepening communal divides.
Moreover, BJP leaders have also emphasized the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as a cornerstone of their agenda. Shah, at a rally in Chhattisgarh’s Bemetara, asserted, “As long as BJP is there, we will not let personal laws come. It will run on UCC. We have brought it in Uttarakhand and it is our promise and Modi’s guarantee that we will enforce UCC across the country.”
Additionally, Adityanath accused the Congress of planning to allow cow slaughter, presenting it as an assault on religious beliefs. “Our majority community does not slaughter cows or eat cow meat. Now they want Muslims to have the freedom to slaughter cows. Will you accept this? Is this not playing with your faith?” he proclaimed.
The BJP’s persistence in echoing Modi’s communal rhetoric, despite the Election Commission’s notice, underscores the challenges of maintaining a fair and inclusive electoral discourse in India.
