Modi’s Muslim remarks spark ‘hate speech’ accusations as India’s mammoth election deepens divides

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Key Points

CNN . . Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been accused of delivering Islamophobic remarks during an election rally Sunday, triggering widespread anger from prominent Muslims and members of the opposition.. ..

Those remarks have been seized on by the opposition, who have long accused Modi and the BJP of using divisive rhetoric to turbo-charge their increasingly popular brand of Hindu nationalism.. . Opposition members have called on the Election Commission of India (ECI) to investigate whether Modis comments break the bodys code of conduct.. ..

Activity which may aggravate differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between communities and religions, is also not allowed.. . CNN has contacted the ECI for comment.. . Modi received widespread backlash from members of the Muslim community for his comments at a time when many fear a third BJP term will deepen the communal fissures already running through the country.. ..

This is not a dogwhistle, this is a targeted, direct, brazen hate speech against a community, prominent Muslim journalist Rana Ayyub wrote on X.. . . Muslim lawmaker and president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen, Asaduddin Owaisi, said: Modi today called Muslims infiltrators and people with many children..

In the history of India, no prime minister has lowered the dignity of his post as much as Modi has.. . Modi swept to power in 2014 on a promise of development and anti-corruption, rising in popularity during his term and getting re-elected five years later the second time on a more openly Hindu nationalist ticket.. . Over the last decade, Modi and his BJP have been accused of driving religious polarization with their Hindu nationalist policies, giving rise to a wave of Islamophobia and deadly communal clashes in the worlds largest secular democracy.. . Indias minority Muslim population is enormous some 230 million people and Muslims have lived in what is now modern India for centuries..

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