In a strongly worded criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday accused the prime minister of adopting divisive and polarizing rhetoric during his recent campaign speeches. Ramesh’s comments came in response to PM Modi’s allegations that the Congress party seeks to undermine traditional Indian customs, including the ‘mangalsutra,’ a symbol of marriage for Hindu women.
Jairam Ramesh highlighted PM Modi’s recent remarks, suggesting that they reflected a sense of insecurity over the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. “The prime minister of the country can never use such language, but he is doing it,” Ramesh stated. “He considers himself a ‘Vishwa Guru,’ but the language he has used in the last few days suggests that he is not a ‘Vishwa Guru’ but a ‘Vish Guru’.” The latter term, derived from the Sanskrit word “vish,” meaning poison, implies a toxic approach to public discourse.
The Congress general secretary accused PM Modi of making baseless claims in his speech at Rajasthan’s Banswara, where the prime minister suggested that the Congress was plotting to hand over property and money to “infiltrators” and “those who have more children.” Ramesh refuted these claims, stating that the Congress party’s manifesto focused on addressing economic inequality.
Furthermore, Jairam Ramesh pointed out that PM Modi’s comments about the ‘mangalsutra’ were inconsistent with his past behavior. “They are spreading false propaganda that the Congress will take away ‘mangalsutra.’ The same person who never respected the ‘mangalsutra’ is today saying that we will take it away,” Ramesh remarked.
In response to the BJP’s alleged misinformation and divisive rhetoric, the Congress party has submitted a complaint to the Election Commission, claiming that the BJP’s statements are causing confusion and anger among the middle class and salaried professionals. Praveen Chakravarty, head of the All India Professionals’ Congress, wrote to the Election Commission, emphasizing the party’s concerns over the BJP’s attempts to spread misinformation. “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 stated.
As the Lok Sabha elections continue, political rhetoric and campaigning tactics remain under scrutiny. The Election Commission’s response to these complaints and allegations will be closely watched as the election season progresses.
