Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent broadsides targeting the Muslim community during his election campaign, however, drew widespread condemnation from many quarters, but he remained resolute in a recent interview given to News18, stating that he never targeted or named the Muslim community in his speeches or vilified them.
He made himself innocuous while responding to the interviewer, who asked him why he referred to Muslims as infiltrators and those who produce more children; Modi stated that he meant not the Muslim community, but instead turned the table on those who raised the issue, linking those who produce more children to the Muslim community.
Is Narendra Modi true to his words in stating that engaging in Hindu-Muslim politics would render him unfit for the job, and he vowed not to indulge in such politics as his resolution? Did he indeed refer to infiltrators and those who produce more children as Muslims?
However, a closer examination of his past speeches paints a different picture. In a speech delivered in Banswara, Rajasthan, PM Modi used language that most interpreted as divisive, referring to "those who produce more children" and "infiltrators."
Just before uttering these words, he indeed mentioned Muslims as the community being supported and benefited by the Congress, asserting that if Congress comes to power, it would snatch Hindu properties to deliver them to the Muslim community. He then asked, “Do you wish to give your hard-earned properties to be shared among the 'infiltrators' and 'those who produce more children'?"
Furthermore, PM Modi's assertion of abstaining from Hindu-Muslim rhetoric faces scrutiny in light of several instances where he allegedly engaged in such discourse. Instances cited include a speech in Chatra, Jharkhand, where he warned against the supposed intentions of an opposition coalition to favour Muslims over other marginalized communities.
Additionally, his references to Muslims as "infiltrators" in various speeches, including one in Tonk-Sawai Madhopur constituency, raise questions about his commitment to non-partisan dialogue.
The Prime Minister's rhetoric has been criticized for its potential to stoke communal tensions and polarize communities. His comments linking Muslim identity with certain political agendas and portraying them as a threat have drawn condemnation from various quarters.
Critics argue that such rhetoric not only undermines the principles of secularism but also fosters an environment of mistrust and division among citizens. They point to historical instances, such as PM Modi's remarks during the Gujarat riots in 2002, as evidence of a pattern of discriminatory language targeting Muslims.
PM Modi's supporters, however, maintain that his speeches are often misconstrued and taken out of context by political opponents seeking to discredit him. They argue that his focus on issues such as population control and national security transcends religious lines and is aimed at addressing broader societal concerns.