The Congress party has lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission of India, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is spreading false information to create confusion and unrest among salaried professionals and the middle class. This complaint comes after BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggested that the Congress party plans to confiscate assets from citizens and redistribute them as part of their manifesto’s commitment to equitable development.
Praveen Chakravarty, head of the All India Professionals’ Congress, submitted the complaint to the Election Commission, stating that the BJP is deliberately spreading misinformation and stoking fear among the public. “There is a wilful and deliberate attempt to stoke confusion, havoc, and angst among the salaried professionals and the middle class through misinformation and lies,” Chakravarty said, according to PTI.
The controversy stems from remarks made by Prime Minister Modi at a rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh on Monday, where he suggested that the Congress party’s manifesto indicates a plan to “take away assets” from people and redistribute them. “Congress and its allies have an eye on your income and assets. The Congress’s Shehzada says that if his government is formed, they will find out what all you have. It will be probed and all these assets will be taken under government control and distributed,” PM Modi said.
Chakravarty clarified that during the Congress party’s manifesto launch in Hyderabad on April 6, Rahul Gandhi discussed the party’s commitment to economic and social justice to ensure more equitable development of society. However, he emphasized that there is no mention of confiscating or redistributing assets in the manifesto. The Congress leader termed the BJP’s claims as “fake news” and demanded that the Election Commission take action against the ruling party for spreading misinformation.
The complaint also identifies an individual and their phone number who circulated a WhatsApp message stating that the Congress party’s manifesto promises to “confiscate two-thirds of your assets for redistribution to the poor under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Wealth Redistribution Scheme.” Chakravarty pointed out that this message is based on an article in a leading daily, which has been used as a basis for further spreading misinformation.
The Congress party seeks immediate action from the Election Commission to address these misleading claims and prevent further spread of false information during the ongoing election campaign. This complaint highlights the importance of accurate and truthful information during the electoral process to maintain public trust and uphold democratic principles.
