National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti have criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks about Muslims during a poll speech. Modi had claimed that the Congress would redistribute wealth to Muslims if it came to power, a statement that was widely condemned as divisive and anti-Muslim.
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who was unwell since Sunday, will resume electioneering on April 24 with public meetings in Maharashtra’s Amravati and Solapur. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress of trying to extend reservation on the basis of religion, particularly to Muslims. The Congress has explored legal remedies against Modi’s remarks, as the Election Commission has not acted on their complaint. In the third phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 7, 1,351 candidates from 12 States and Union Territories will be contesting, including eight candidates from the Betul seat of Madhya Pradesh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sparked a political controversy by alleging that the Congress party’s manifesto includes plans to seize gold and property from citizens and redistribute them based on family size. These remarks, delivered at a recent rally in Rajasthan, have drawn a strong response from the Congress.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has criticized the Congress for spreading falsehoods about the BJP doing away with reservations. He reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has guaranteed that reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) will not be scrapped as long as the BJP is in power.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign speeches, alleging that they aimed to incite communal tensions to divert attention from electoral setbacks. He questioned the Election Commission’s impartiality and accused the BJP of undermining constitutional institutions. Pilot also condemned Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for his behavior towards Rahul Gandhi, calling it unbecoming of a constitutional post holder.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent election speech in Rajasthan has come under fire for spreading fear and misinformation about India’s Muslim community. Modi claimed that the Congress party plans to seize Hindu land, savings, and even women’s jewelry, and give them to Muslims. He also called Muslims “infiltrators” and accused them of having too many children. These claims are not supported by facts and have been widely condemned as dangerous and divisive.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance model, highlighting poverty reduction efforts and welfare schemes reaching the underprivileged without discrimination. He criticized the Congress for misleading people for decades with empty slogans.
Union Minister Narayan Rane, a senior BJP leader, has issued a stern warning to opposition leaders ahead of a planned rally. He has vowed that anyone who uses abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be allowed to leave the rally unharmed. Rane made these remarks while addressing a campaign rally in Sindhudurg district on Monday. He criticized Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and his party’s MP Sanjay Raut for their comments against PM Modi, claiming that they do not understand what they are talking about.
The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, NCP, and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), is engaged in a fierce contest with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) for the 48 parliamentary seats in Maharashtra. Rane also took aim at Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership, alleging that he was never his father Bal Thackeray’s choice for the post of Maharashtra Chief Minister.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks about the Congress wanting to redistribute people’s property. Yadav said the BJP’s stance has deteriorated since the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, as evidenced by the leaders’ speeches.
India, now the world’s largest democracy, has undergone a significant shift in its national identity under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While India’s founding fathers envisioned a progressive, liberal, and secular country, Modi’s vision is distinct and rooted in Hindu nationalism. This excerpt explores the contrasting backgrounds and ideologies of Nehru and Modi, highlighting the evolution of India’s national identity.
