'Vote Jihad' exposed INDIA bloc's poll strategy: Narendra Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed that the INIDIA bloc asking Muslims to Vote Jihad exposed its poll strategy for ongoing Lok Sabha polls. By asking Muslims to get together and vote, the bloc has insulted democracy and the Constitution, Modi said in a survey campaign rally in Gujarat's Anand. The PM was referring to the Vote Jihad remark by Congress leader Salman Kurshid's niece, Maria Alam. He pointed out that no Congress leader has opposed the statement yet, NDTV reported.

The PM pointed out that Maria is no child coming from a Madrasa but a member of an educated family. Her statement has 'exposed' the INIDA alliance poll strategy for LS polls, he claimed.

The PM alleged that the INDIA bloc has a tacit understanding, and the party is trying to divide SC, ST, OBC and general categories on the one hand and raising the slogan of Vote Jihad on the other, showing how dangerous the opposition bloc's intentions are.

It was days ago, the Samajwadi Party leader Maria Alam appealed to Muslims in Uttar Pradesh's Farukhabad to launch a "vote jihad". She was campaigning for party candidate Naval Kishore Shakya. She had said that "Vote Jihad" is the only way to remove the current BJP-led government in the Centre. When people say the Constitution and Democracy are under threat, she believes that humanity itself is under threat.

Following this, the Uttar Pradesh Police booked her under charges of promoting enmity between classes, with sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Representation of the People Act. Salman Khurshid, who was the chief guest at the gathering, was also booked.