'I Urge The Muslim Community To...': PM Modi Warns Against Religious Divide For Political Gain
PM Narendra Modi on Sunday said Muslims now understand that the Congress and INDIA bloc are using them as pawns. (Image: PTI/File)
Amid the ongoing political slugfest between the BJP and Congress in the wake of the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on the Muslim community to reflect on their role in national progress, cautioning them against attempts by the opposition to exploit religious divides for political gains.
“I am saying this for the first time to the Muslim ‘samaj’ (community) and their educated faction: please introspect. The country is moving ahead. Why does your community feel something is missing? Why did you not get the benefits of government schemes during the Congress era? Reflect on whether you experienced hardship during the Congress era,” he said in a TV interview. “I urge the Muslim ‘samaj’ to think about the future of their children, and also about their future. I don’t want any community to live the life of bonded labour because someone is creating an atmosphere of fear,” he added.
Religious Divide for Electoral Gains
These candid remarks from Modi come as BJP alleges that Congress is playing with fire” by attempting to create a Hindu-Muslim divide for electoral gains. Social media users lauded Modi’s bid to reach out to the Muslim community. “An eye opener. He is the only hope not only for the majority community but for the minorities as well, not only in India but all over the world as well,” said one of the users on X. “PM Speaking so openly, only Modi could do it. He has clarity hence he is not scared to speak on the topic untouched for the last 70 years,” said another.
Yet another said, “No doubt, Progressive community are above this religious divide created by INDI Alliance. Many of my colleagues, friends and known ones are thinking about their children’s future and know that anyone who can create a real difference in their lives is one and only @narendramodi.” “Need more candid talks of PM on every issue..” Earlier on Sunday, PM Modi said Muslims now understand that the Congress and INDIA bloc are using them as pawns, asserting that the community is distancing itself from them after seeing the development carried out by the BJP.
‘Muslim brothers and sisters’
Addressing a rally in support of BJP candidate Rekha Verma in Dhaurahra, Modi said that the poor and those belonging to the SC, ST and OBC communities have also come to the BJP. “Muslim brothers and sisters are seeing that (houses under) PM housing scheme were given to all the needy. Be it water connection or gas cylinder under Ujjwala Yojana, every government benefit was given to all…they (Muslims) are also getting benefits of all schemes without discrimination,” Modi said.
“The Muslim community also realises that the Congress and INDI alliance have made them pawns,” he said, adding that “that is why the Muslim community is also distancing itself from these contractors of vote bank politics”. Now, to save the Muslim vote bank, these people (opposition) are playing a new game and are out doing appeasement in the open, he said. The prime minister said the manifesto of the opposition reflects the Muslim League’s thinking.
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