Congress will give your wealth to Muslims, says PM Modi; party hits back

Citing former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's remark that the minority community had the first claim on India's resources, PM Narendra Modi on Sunday (April 21) suggested that if the Congress comes to power, it would redistribute the wealth of people to Muslims.

Modi, addressing a rally in Rajasthan's Banswara, alleged the Congress plans to give people's hard-earned money and valuables to "infiltrators" and "those who have more children".

PM attacks Congress

"This urban Naxal mindset, my mothers and sisters, they will not even leave your 'mangalsutra'. They can go to that level," Modi said.

"The Congress manifesto says they will calculate the gold with mothers and sisters, and then distribute that property. They will distribute it to whom - Manmohan Singh's government had said that Muslims have the first right on the country's assets," he claimed.

'It will be distributed among infiltrators'

"Earlier, when their (Congress) government was in power, they had said that Muslims have the first right on the country's assets. This means to whom will this property be distributed? It will be distributed among those who have more children.

"It will be distributed to the infiltrators. Should your hard-earned money go to the infiltrators? Do you approve of this?" he said.

Modi was referring to former PM Manmohan Singh's controversial "first claim" remark made in 2006.

Congress reacts

Modi's remarks triggered a sharp reaction from the Congress, which said that after facing "disappointment" in the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls, the prime minister has now resorted to telling "lies" and is diverting people's attention from the real issues.

While the Congress manifesto delves into the issue of economic inequalities, the party has asserted that it does not talk about "redistribution" and that it favours a "comprehensive socio-economic caste census".

The Opposition party had also asserted that Rahul Gandhi did not promise redistribution of the nation's wealth in Hyderabad on April 7 and that his words were "misrepresented". The clarification from Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh came after Rahul Gandhi had reportedly talked about the need to conduct a survey for more equitable distribution of the country's wealth.

Kharge, Rahul hit out at Modi for 'hate speech'

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to slam Modi's remark and termed it "hate speech".

"Today, Modi ji's panic-filled speech showed that INDIA is winning in the first phase results. What Modi ji said is not only a hate speech but also a well-thought-out ploy to divert attention. Today, the Prime Minister did what he has learnt from the values ​​of the Sangh. Lying for power, making baseless references to things and making false accusations about opponents is the specialty of the training of RSS and BJP," Kharge wrote in Hindi.

He added, "The 140 crore people of the country are no longer going to fall prey to this lie. Our manifesto is for every Indian. It talks about equality for all. It talks about justice for all. The 'Nyay Patra' of the Congress is based on the foundation of truth, but it seems that the throne of the dictator in the form of Goebbels is now shaking. In the history of India, no Prime Minister has lowered the dignity of his post as much as Modiji has."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said Modi was diverting the attention of the public with his "lies". "After the disappointment in the first phase of voting, the level of Narendra Modi's lies has fallen so much that out of fear, he now wants to divert the attention of the public from the issues.Trends have started coming in regarding the immense support that Congress's 'Revolutionary Manifesto' is receiving. The country will now vote on its issues, vote for its employment, its family and its future. India will not go astray!" Rahul wrote on X in Hindi.

'Congress trapped in the clutches of the Leftists'

Also on Sunday, Modi alleged that the Congress is now trapped "in the clutches of the Leftists" and its manifesto "is worrying and serious" as it is an attempt to implement the "ideology of Maoism on the ground".

"It says that if a Congress government is formed, everyone's property will be surveyed and the amount of gold our sisters have will be investigated and calculated. our tribal families have silver, which will be calculated... This gold and other assets will be distributed equally to everyone.

"Is it acceptable to you? Do governments have the right to confiscate your property which you have earned through hard work? The gold with our mothers and sisters is not for showing off, it is related to their self-respect.

"The value of their 'mangalsutra' is not in gold or its price but it is related to their dreams in life and you are talking about snatching it," Modi said.

'Urban Naxals'

The prime minister alleged that the Congress has come under the control of "urban Naxals".

He also accused the Congress of ignoring the welfare of tribals and said the party could not find a single person from the Adivasi community who could be the President of the country during its 60-year rule.

"Were the tribals not capable? Just see the Congress' mindset. But in 2014, you blessed us... and now a tribal daughter is the country's president. This is real participation. This is the spirit of the Constitution given by Babasaheb," Modi said addressing the public meeting in Banswara in support of BJP's Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya.

He said the BJP is committed to the welfare of the poor and works honestly, but the Congress sells "fear, hunger and corruption in its shop".

He said the Congress has always instilled fear among the Dalits, tribals and minorities and is now spreading lies about democracy, the Constitution and reservation to scare them.

"But the country is out of the grip of fear that is why their lies are no longer working. In the states with considerable tribal population, the Congress is either not in power or is in third or fourth position ...

There is anger among the tribal population and there are concrete reasons for it," Modi said.

'Royal family'

He said a tribal welfare ministry was formed only under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

"From among crores of tribal sons and daughters, the Congress could not a single person in 60 years who could be become the President of the country," Modi said, adding the Congress and the INDIA bloc even opposed the candidature of the current President who is from the tribal community.

The prime minister said the situation of the Congress is such that for the first time in the history of independence, the "royal family" of the Congress is not contesting elections in New Delhi, where its members live.

"If this royal family does not vote for the Congress, then what right does it have to ask you for votes?" he asked.

The Congress is contesting the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi in alliance with the AAP. As part of the seat-sharing arrangement between the two parties, the New Delhi seat has gone to the AAP.

Countering the Congress' criticism that he works for a few industrialists, Modi said during the COVID-19 pandemic, he gave free ration to the poor and made sure that no one slept hungry.

"These big people sitting in the Congress consider themselves knowledgeable. Economists from all over the world used to put pressure on me to give money to industrialists for different things (saying that) otherwise, the economy would collapse and people would lose their jobs.

"I did not listen to a single word they said. I did not give a single rupee to any rich person. I gave free ration to the poor. I made sure that no one slept hungry. That is why I started the free ration scheme. It will continue for the next five years," he said.

Veiled attack on Sonia

In a veiled attack on Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Modi said those who cannot win elections have "fled the field" and have come to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan.

Addressing another election rally in Rajasthan's Jalore, Modi said the country is punishing the Congress for its "sins" and the party that had once won 400 seats is unable to find candidates to contest 300 seats in this Lok Sabha election.

"Those who cannot contest elections, cannot win elections have fled the field. This time, they have come to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan. The condition of the Congress is so bad," the prime minister said.

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi is among the MPs elected to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan in February. Several Congress veterans have not been fielded in this Lok Sabha election, but the party has rejected suggestions that they were shying away from contesting.

Modi says Congress has itself to blame for present condition

"In the first phase of voting, half of Rajasthan has punished the Congress. Rajasthan, which is full of patriotism, knows that the Congress can never make India strong," PM Modi said. He said the country does not want the conditions which existed before 2014 to return.

"The Congress has hollowed out the country by spreading termites of nepotism and corruption. And today, the country is angry with the Congress and is punishing it for these sins. The youths are so angry that they do not want to see the Congress' face again." Modi was addressing the public meeting in Bhinmal in support of BJP candidate Lumbaram Chaudhary.

"The Congress has itself to blame for its present condition ... The party that had once won 400 seats is unable to contest 300 seats on its own. Today, the condition of Congress is such that it is unable to find candidates," Modi said.

(With agency inputs)