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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly blaming “Muslims for having more children”, saying poverty leads to larger families, and that he himself has five children.
“We are heading for a majority; that is why he (Modi) now talks about ‘Mangalsutra’ and Muslims. He says we will steal your wealth and give it to those who have more children. Poor people always have more children,” Kharge said at a public meeting ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Last month, PM Modi sparked controversy by alleging that the Congress manifesto aims to distribute property based on the number of children a family has, claiming it favours Muslims. However, Kharge countered, “Do only Muslims have them (children)? I have five.”
PM Modi’s Controversial Remarks
During a rally in Rajasthan’s Banswara last month, PM Modi claimed the Congress manifesto proposes calculating the wealth held by “mothers and sisters” and then redistributing that property to those with more children.
“The Congress manifesto says they will calculate the gold with mothers and sisters, get information about it and then distribute that property. They will distribute it to whom – Manmohan Singh’s government had said that Muslims have the first right on the country’s assets,” Modi alleged.
He went on to suggest this would benefit “infiltrators” or illegal immigrants. “It will be distributed among those who have more children. It will be distributed to the infiltrators. Should your hard-earned money go to the infiltrators? Do you approve of this?” the PM questioned.
The remarks have drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties and secular voices who have accused Modi of blatantly pitting communities against each other and promoting a divisive agenda for electoral gains.
The Congress has firmly denied Modi’s claims about their manifesto, terming them as “outrageous lies” aimed at polarizing voters along communal lines. Party leaders have demanded the PM apologize for his remarks.
Implications on India’s Secularism
The controversial statements from both leaders have reignited debates around secularism and minority rights in India. By appearing to single out Muslims over family planning, critics argue that PM Modi is perpetuating divisive narratives and deepening fault lines.
Kharge’s response highlighting his own large family aims to counter the PM’s perceived bias, asserting that poverty rather than religion dictates family sizes. However, his remarks could be seen as reinforcing stereotypes about economic backgrounds and birth rates.
Political analysts warn that such rhetoric from the ruling party and opposition could inflame societal tensions and polarize voters along religious lines ahead of the crucial general elections. They emphasize the need for all parties to uphold India’s secular fabric and steer clear of dog-whistle politics.
These statements go against the pluralistic values enshrined in our Constitution. Leaders must be cautious about pitting communities against each other, which can have far-reaching consequences for national unity. As the high-stakes election battle intensifies, there are concerns that India’s cherished secularism could become a casualty, with parties exploiting sensitive issues like family planning for electoral gains, undermining social cohesion and harmony.