The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) on Wednesday requested the Madras High Court to direct the Election Commission of India (ECI) to seek an explanation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly making hate speeches during the election campaigns.
TNCC President K Selvaperunthagai filed a petition before the High Court alleging that even though multiple complaints were lodged with the ECI against hate speeches by PM Modi, the Commission has only issued one show cause notice to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) instead of directly addressing Narendra Modi.
The matter was mentioned before the Vacation Bench of Justice AD Jagadish Chandira and Justice R Kalaimathi on Wednesday, which directed the petitioner to get the matter numbered by the Registry first.
Selvaperunthagai contended before the High Court this morning that the Prime Minister had made unsavoury remarks against Muslims in multiple election meetings since April 21.
Calling the Prime Minister an “individual culprit” for the hate speeches, the plea added that Modi was solely responsible for these inflammatory remarks, derogative and divisive speeches.
This leniency of the ECI sent a wrong signal to the citizens and undermined the integrity of our nation’s whole electoral process, it noted.
Selvaperunthagai alleged in the petition that BJP was attempting to win the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by hook or by crook and therefore, was indulging in a divisive campaign along communal lines.
He said the Prime Minister himself had termed Muslims as “infiltrators” and those who “have more children.”
The petitioner further stated that Modi has made misleading and derogatory remarks about the Congress party’s manifesto, and that the BJP leader should be restrained from making such derogatory comments.
He said a protest was also registered to alleged remarks by Modi that the “opposition’s victory would mean Hindus’ wealth going into Muslim’s hands.”
He said that he submitted a representation to the Chief Electoral Officer’s office in Chennai on May 1, calling for immediate and decisive action against Modi’s “derogative statements and communal rhetoric.”
However, no response was received. Therefore, the TNCC president has now moved the High Court calling for directions to the ECI to call for an explanation from Modi.
The petition contended that Modi’s derogatory remarks about specific communities such as Muslims, including his recent comments regarding the ‘mangalsutra’ and birth rates among Muslims, were not only disrespectful but also shameful and treacherous as they could fuel communal tensions and sow division among the people of India.
It said these communal tensions were not exclusive to the States among which the Prime Minister has made these speeches, rather the blatant disrespect of Muslims was targeted to all the Muslims residing all over India.
Modi was trying to create a fear psychosis in the minds of the people and trying to whip up communal passions. He wanted the Indian citizens to fight among themselves and shed blood in the streets of India to force the majority to vote for BJP, it alleged.