The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) has filed a writ petition in the Madras High Court, seeking a direction to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to issue a notice to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making communally charged statements during his election campaign speeches.
A mention of the petition was made before a summer vacation bench of Justices A.D. Jagadish Chandira and R. Kalaimathi on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The High Court Registry initially refused to number the writ petition due to the allegations made against the Prime Minister.
The judges advised the petitioner’s counsel A.P. Suryaprakasam to answer the queries raised by the Registry and get the petition numbered.
In an affidavit filed on behalf of TNCC, its president K. Selvaperunthagai alleged that the Prime Minister has made unsavoury remarks against Muslims in multiple meetings since April 21. He further stated that the BJP is attempting to win the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by resorting to divisive tactics and indulging in a campaign along communal lines.
Selvaperunthagai cited specific instances where Prime Minister Modi allegedly termed Muslims as infiltrators and accused them of having more children. He emphasized that these statements were part of election campaign meetings held in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and other places.
The petitioner also complained that a false campaign was being spread about the Congress manifesto, projecting the party as being in favor of imposing an inheritance tax.
Selvaperunthagai highlighted that the ECI had issued a notice regarding these speeches to the BJP but not to Prime Minister Modi, who delivered them. He insisted on a direction to the ECI to issue a notice to the PM and initiate decisive action with respect to his campaign speeches.
