Congress Accuses PM Modi of Diverting from Real Issues with 'Falsehoods' and 'Inflammatory Rhetoric'

The Congress party has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of resorting to 'falsehoods' and 'inflammatory rhetoric' to divert attention from real issues after facing 'disappointment' in the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls. Congress leader K C Venugopal claimed that 40% of India's wealth from 2012-2021 went to 1% of the population, and alleged that Modi distorted the speech of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge described Modi's comments as 'inflammatory rhetoric' and said he had lowered the dignity of political discourse. The Congress accused Modi of diverting attention from real issues like poverty, inflation, and unemployment. "After facing disappointment in the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls, the PM has turned to falsehoods and inflammatory rhetoric to distract people from the real issues," Kharge said.

The row erupted after Modi suggested in a rally that the Congress would redistribute the wealth of people to Muslims if it comes to power, citing former PM Manmohan Singh's remark that the minority community had the first claim on the country's resources. The Congress has refuted these claims, stating that its manifesto contains no provisions for such drastic wealth redistribution. Instead, the party says its manifesto focuses on addressing socioeconomic disparities through measures like a comprehensive socioeconomic and caste census.

The Congress has filed a complaint with the Election Commission, alleging that Modi's 'divisive, objectionable and malicious' comments were targeted at the Muslim minority community and amounted to 'blatant and direct violations of electoral laws'. The party has sought action against Modi, including a ban from campaigning. Several opposition parties have also criticized Modi's remarks.

Why this matters: The political row highlights the ongoing tensions and accusations between the ruling BJP and opposition parties ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha elections. The controversy also underscores the debates about socioeconomic equity, minority rights, and the government's role in addressing these issues in India.

Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders have criticized Modi's remarks and accused him of repeatedly using religion and religious sentiments in the BJP's election campaign with impunity. The Congress has made 17 complaints to the Election Commission, including the use of religious photos and posters by the BJP in Gujarat. As the nation gears up for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections, the political war of words between the BJP and opposition parties is expected to intensify.

Key Takeaways

• Congress accuses PM Modi of using 'falsehoods' to divert attention from real issues.
• Congress claims 40% of India's wealth went to 1% of population from 2012-2021.
• Congress files complaint with EC, seeks action against PM's 'divisive' remarks.
• Political row highlights tensions between BJP and opposition ahead of Lok Sabha polls.
• Congress criticizes BJP's use of religion, religious sentiments in election campaign.