New Delhi: Even though Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nasty election speech in Rajasthan's Banswara has triggered a nationwide controversy, the Election Commission has so far not taken any action. Meanwhile the Opposition bloc INDIA called the speech an attempt to divert attention from "real issues".
Addressing the people Banswara, on April 21, (Sunday) Modi openly attacked India’s Muslims, suggesting they were “infiltrators” and went on to claim that the opposition if elected would give away “mangalsutras” and “land” of those listening to his speech to them (Muslims).
He referred to his immediate predecessor, Dr Manmohan Singh who was in office for 10 years as prime minister till 2014, and said, “Earlier, when his government was in power, he had said that Muslims have the first right on the country’s property, which means who will they collect this property and distribute it to – those who have more children, will distribute it to the infiltrators. Will the money of your hard work be given to the infiltrators? Do you approve of this?”
Modi went on to say, “This Congress manifesto is saying that they will calculate the gold of the mothers and sisters, get information about it and then distribute it. Manmohan Singh’s government had said that Muslims have the first right on property. Brothers and sisters, these urban Naxal thoughts will not let even your mangalsutra escape, they will go this far.”
Narendra Modi and the BJP so far in their campaign trail have invoked religious faith, the Ram temple and Lord Ram multiple times, directly using it to call for people to vote for them. The Election Commission has been completely silent on the messaging via videos, tweets and other exhortations.
Did Manmohan Singh really say that?
Modi’s claim that Dr Singh said that is not new and was refuted in 2006 itself by Singh’s PMO, when Modi had first made the false claim. The PMO had termed such remarks, “a deliberate and mischievous misinterpretation of what the Prime Minister said here yesterday at the meeting of the National Development Council, on fiscal priorities of the government.” It was termed “an avoidable controversy has been generated. The Prime Minister’s observations have also been quoted out of context in some sections of the electronic media, fuelling a baseless controversy.”
The full text of the paragraph in which the Prime Minister referred to the issue of minority empowerment to clarify the matter is as follows:
“I believe our collective priorities are clear: agriculture, irrigation and water resources, health, education, critical investment in rural infrastructure, and the essential public investment needs of general infrastructure, along with programmes for the upliftment of SC/STs, other backward classes, minorities and women and children. The component plans for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will need to be revitalized. We will have to devise innovative plans to ensure that minorities, particularly the Muslim minority, are empowered to share equitably in the fruits of development. They must have the first claim on resources. The Centre has a myriad other responsibilities whose demands will have to be fitted within the over-all resource availability.”
The PMO’s clarification said. “it will be seen from the above that the Prime Minister’s reference to “first claim on resources” refers to all the “priority” areas listed above, including programmes for the upliftment of SCs, STs, OBCs, women and children and minorities.
Opposition reacts
Chairman, Media and Publicity department of the Congress, Pawan Khera said in a video message in a post, “We challenge the Prime Minister to show us if the word Hindu or Muslim is written anywhere in our manifesto. This kind of lightness is there in your mentality, in your political values. We have talked about justice for the youth, women, farmers, tribals, middle class and workers. Do you object to this as well?”
Khera was referring to earlier mistruths uttered by Modi about the “Muslim League” having influenced the Congress manifesto.
In Jharkhand’s Ranchi at an opposition rally, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is reported to have said by BBC Hindi, “If democracy and the Constitution end in the country, then the people will have nothing left. Babasaheb Ambedkar ji and Jawaharlal Nehru ji gave equal voting rights to everyone, due to which all classes got respect. But Narendra Modi wants to snatch their rights from the poor.”
B.V. Srinivas termed it as unfortunate that “this person is the Prime Minister of this country, and an even bigger tragedy is that the Election Commission of India is no longer alive.” He said that “due to the frustration of impending defeat, the Prime Minister of India is openly sowing the seeds of hatred, he is polarising by misquoting Manmohan Singh’s 18-year-old incomplete statement, But the Election Commission (Modi ka parivar) is bowing down.”
Modi’s past hate-speech
Modi, in his 12-year tenure as chief minister of Gujarat was known to have made speeches targeting the state’s minority Muslim community brazenly, terming camps where Muslims were forced to stay in after communal violence gripped the state in 2002. Frontline covered him on his Gujarat Gaurav Yatra started shortly after the violence, at a rally at Becharaji in Mehsana district in northern Gujarat, when he said, “What should we do? Run relief camps for them? Do we want to open baby-producing centres? But for certain people that means hum paanch, hamare pachees.”
In 2017 it was time again for direct speech targeting Muslims when in February he spoke of ‘shamshaan versus kabristan’ campaigning for UP and then for Gujarat elections when the BJP had its worst performance this millennium, in a speech at Palanpur on December 10, 2017 Modi invoked a “secret meeting” to get Pakistan to fix Gujarat’s assembly polls. He said that a meeting was held at Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar’s residence, attended by former PM Manmohan Singh, former Vice-President Hamid Ansari, former Army Chief Deepak Kapoor and distinguished diplomats to execute the plot. Modi’s PMO faced embarrassment when in response to an RTI filed by the Congress, his office was forced to say that Modi’s campaign speech could have been based on an “informal input”.
In the only question he has answered as part of a press conference with Joe Biden on June 22, 2023, Modi was asked, “India has long prided itself as the world’s largest democracy, but there are many human rights groups who say that your government has discriminated against religious minorities and sought to silence its critics. As you stand here in the East Room of the White House, where so many world leaders have made commitments to protecting democracy, what steps are you and your government willing to take to improve the rights of Muslims and other minorities in your country and to uphold free speech?”
In response Modi appeared visibly frazzled and denied all charges. “I’m actually really surprised that people say so. And so, people don’t say it. Indeed, India is a democracy.”
The journalist was trolled online by BJP leaders and supporters to such an extent that the White House had to come out and defend her and strongly denounce the trolling and abuse.
Comments
Garbage has not been pickup the past one week. Ward21.
Mobile number 7019549462
Dear sir,
I am a resident of Padil. Few houses are letting sewage water to the storm water drain. Due to seepage our well water has been contaminated and cannot be used for consumption
We have complained to the Health officer till this day no one has come and cleared. Now when dengue and Malaria is spreading coz of mosquitoes. Relevant Department has to look into the matter seriously .
The residents of Nehru Road, few houses just before the playground are letting dirty water to the storm water drain. Please visit the area and instruct them to block them immediately. It is not appropriate during the time of covid, malaria causing growth of mosquitoes. Pl give notice to them and direct all to connect to drainage connection
Have been complaining of encroachment of neighbours on public land . Went to commissioner office couple of times & also to TPO but they only come see & go .No action is being taken by the authorities on our neighbour s who have encroached on public land. They have put tagad sheet on top across the road also tiled the road near their house ,built a Tulsi katte & planted huge forest trees which are cracking our compound wall.
Hello all,
If you are going for a start up business in Mangalore city corporation limits, please be careful with the trade license inspector name Sanjay his mobile number 8722119111 he miss uses female candidates number and will keep on disturbing you with unwanted messages and do harassment so better to avoid him if possible.
MCC please take necessary actions on him.
Attavara is a fast developing suburb with two big malls, commercial establishments, KMC and Mangalore station nearby. There is constant movement of people and traffic. As a Corporator of a growing ward, you have a major role to play.
Babugudde is now a busy residential area. Due to lack of Street display boards visitors to Babugudda (on Attavara - Marnimikatta shortcut road) 575 001 get lost as none of the four crossroads have boards except for the “2nd Cross Lane Income Tax Enclave”.
This has been a long-standing demand of Ward 45 as guests/courier/deliverymen / ambulance / utilities struggle to find the right address. As Corporator of our community we ask that you ensure that a properly visible name board is posted in suitable places near Babugudda bus stop and a clear visible board at the entrance of the 4th crossroad. Your prompt action will be appreciated. A small step towards smart city.
It should be prioritised as it’s one of features that make a city ‘smart’
Sewerage water canal beside chakrapani temple attavara is clogged with plastic bags accumulated under the bridge. Area is stinking. Drainage water not flowing properly. During rainy season rain water flows with mud and dirt to low lying area towards Kmc hospital attavara.
During havy rain this storm water gutter overflows near the road.
No street light in the new pole recently installed.
Can we expect our corporation ecosystem and grievence addressing system will take note of this and do the needful...... ?
Dear sir.
Launching new system without proper ecosystem for implimentation is useless.
Shop Name : GLASS HOUSE ( Mubarak Towers , opp to Kiran stores)
There has been a Crockery and Glassware shop in BiBi Alabi road that has been operating from a small tent. All his paraphernalia and goods lies scattered on the road as well as pavement from one end to the other. This creates obstructions for people like us to walk.
Also the shop constructed in the front side of the building is Illegal.
Apart from causing traffic disruptions, it causes great discomfort to women, men and children.
Did you got any response from them?
I also posted on street light but till now no response from them
Please sir I hope Mangalore city corporation commissioner is very brilliant but sir.I am informed to you the elligel wine shop with bar.in Mangalore....1 ..wine gate .wine shope ellegale bar. 2. Prashanth wine shope ellegale bar..same like that so many ellegale bar is in Mangalore city. .if you honest officer .please cancel the all like this wineshop.licence....if you honest honest.officer.....
Any contact number where I can contact for street light area incharge.
Place - Hosabettu, Surathkal opp HP Petroleum Pump.
The street light opp to HP Petroleum pump, Hosabettu it is not working almost from 3 months, gave complain to the street incharge person but no respond.
The location address : OPP to HP Petroleum Pump NH66. Near Lotus Park
Ward No. Hosabettu, Surathkal
If you need any further information please contact [email protected]
Sir/ Madam,
We are constructing a house in Yekkeur Sadshiva Nagar, The plot next to our site is filled with Contaminated Water and causing problem to us. There are so many Mosquitoes, Snakes and reptiles which live in that water and come inside our construction house in the night time. This is very dangerous at the time of COVID, it is been informed to the respective Plot owner and also a complaint is registered to respective Corporator (Praveen Chandra Alwa), but no action is taken. Request you to kindly consider this issue on high priority and avoid any upcoming disease to people who stay.
Greetings,
I Aditya, resident of 1st cross Kodialguttu would like to bring to your kind notice that there is an urgent need of Speed Breaker in front of Leela Mansion because the vehicles coming from MG road and approaching concrete road come so fast that many times it has collided with vehicles coming from 1st cross and many had narrow escapes. All the other crosses of kodialguttu have space to sight the coming vehicles except 1st cross. So i request the concerned authorities to do the needful at the earliest .
Regards-Aditya Shetty.
Greetings.
I Aditya resident of kodialguttu 1st cross want to bring to your kind notice that there is an urgent need of Speed Breaker in front of Leela Mansion because the vehicles turning from MG road and approaching the concrete road have mistaken it to be runway.The vehicles coming especialily from 1st cross are unable to sight the vehicles .Many times narrow escapes.
Dear Sir/Madam
The street light on JM Road,exactly near Link ( D-addiction Centre) is working since more then Six months
Request you to kindly look into the matter.
Also in our area the street lights have not been changed to LED where as some places near our have been changed
Hope you will look into the matter at your earliest.
Regards
Robert Tauro
9892205483
good morning sir
chokkabettu near sonal compound there is no street light ......i request to you street light team please provide our street to ......street light.....thanks and with best regards.
the location address mobail number below
name........................................abdul basheer
mobail number .......................9845189367
complaind location.................near sonal compound chokkabettu
ward no....................................chokkabettu, surathkal
complaint................................there no street light fitted untill now only collecting street light amount on our ec bills.
Respected Sir / Madam,
The street lights on Vrindavan Road from Arcanet Feild [Third Cross ] to Forth Cross is not working.
The Road are in very dangerous condition and hence citizens cannot utilise the road especially at night.
The Location address is
District : DakshinaKannada
Name : Parthasarathi Kanchan
Mobile : 9743897377
Complain Location : Vrindavana Road, Hosabettu, 575019 Mangalore
Ward No : Hosabettu, Surathkal
Complaint : Four Street Lights are not working.
anybody got their grevences answered here
corporation lights of cemetrey not glowing since two months. On 1st November 2019 is holy souls day. Kindly repair the lights at the earliest.
Fr. Joseph J. Lobo
Parish Priest
Street light is not working since 15 days. On 23rd July 2019 complaint lodged with Mobile No7353933410. Till date they are not responding
hello / madam
Keeping the city clean is our duty. I know not everybody is following that. We need some awareness program
to keep our city clean green and hygenic. Its our duty to keep the environment clean and place around us.
But it is also the duty of Corporation to maintain the cleanliness aroud the city, in some parts of the city like market, near clock tower circle its not been getting cleaned from past few days. Please do the needfull for betterment of tomorrow
thank you
Dear Madam, I have purchased 1 BHK flat in Green City, Vamadapadav on October, 2013 and paid full amount to builder T3 Urban Developers LTD. As per agreement possession was in December, 2015 but still building is not ready.
There were 5 buildings in Green City and at a time builder started 3 buildings construction work. I have purchased middle of the building and that building 1st floor slab only completed and since long time work stopped.
Last year builder agreed to give me flat in 1st building but building’s interior work is still pending and since 1 year work totally stopped.
Presently builder is not picking call or not responding for query. It seems that he is cheating with me. Kindly help me to resolve this issue. I will be grateful to you.
Sir/Madam,
Four street lights are not working on Raghavendra Matt Road, Hosabettu, Surathkal since long.
The roads are in Shabby condition and hence difficult in the night to Padastrians.
Kindly arrange to replace the treet lights on Main road, Raghavendra Matt Road, Hosabettu, near and after the Areca Field.
the kalbavi road in kottara ashok nagar was provided with ugd pipe line during last year. as usual the centre of road was dug up in march 2018 for this purpose making the road not motorable during the monsoon of 2018.
the asphalt work is now planned now during nov2018 by mcc. this road is very narrow and not having the foot path or road side drain at all.
both the ugd agency as well as the asphalting agency have put the muck/soil on the sides of the road, making it now impossible to walk when there is traffic. also during monsoons , storm water from the entire stretch for about 500 ft will flow on this road itself which is diverted to my compound/pure water sump due to the faulty work of mcc.
in spite of repeated requests/complaints to the commissioner,corporators, engineers of mcc, publishing of the photos of the same in some news papers,action is yet to be taken.
now at least it is requested to remove all the above dumped muck /soil on either sides of this road which is also preventing the entry of monsoon water th the existing drain near the starting point of sagar court.
Street light not working at kulai kavinakallu 2nd street
Relevant department has to look into the matter seriously and work on it and mark the matter as closed so that its notified as closed. Its a good move for public and public workers to work hand in hand
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