Days after sparking controversy with his remarks about the Congress-led INDIA bloc of Opposition parties backing “infiltrators” and “those with more children”, an indirect reference to the Muslim community, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday appeared to have backtracked from his remarks, claiming that he did not speak solely to target Muslims but rather addressed every poor family.
Additionally, he said that if he starts dividing people into Hindu-Muslim, he would be “unworthy of public life”.
In an interview with News 18, PM Modi claimed that he does not politicise affection towards Muslims. “I do not work for a vote bank. I believe in Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,” he said.
“I am shocked. Who told you that whenever one talks of people with more children, the inference is they are Muslims? Why are you so unjust towards Muslims? This is the situation in poor families too. Where there is poverty, there are more children, irrespective of their social circle. I didn’t mention either Hindu or Muslim. I have said that one should have as many children as you can take care of. Don’t let a situation arise where the government has to take care of your children,” the Prime Minister said on Tuesday.
PM Modi admitted that his reputation among Muslims was tarnished by his opponents following the 2002 incident during the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat, while he served as Chief Minister of the state.
“This issue is not about Muslims. Irrespective of how supportive individual Muslims are of Modi, there is a wave of thought that dictates to them, ‘do this, do that’. In my house, there are all Muslim families around me. Eid was also celebrated in our house, and there were other festivals in our house. Food was not cooked in our house on the day of Eid. Food used to come to my place from all the Muslim families,” Modi said.
He further added, “When Muharram started, we needed to come out from under the Tajiya, we were taught. I grew up in that world. Even today, many of my friends are Muslims. After 2002 (Godhra), my image was tarnished.”
When asked if Muslims would vote for him in the upcoming Lok Sabha election, he responded, “The people of the country will vote for me,” adding that, “The day I start doing Hindu-Muslim, I won’t be entitled to live in the public domain. I won’t do Hindu-Muslim. This is my pledge.”
Previously, at a public rally in Rajasthan, PM Modi accused the Congress party of aiming to confiscate people’s gold and property and distribute it among those with more children.
Regarding reports of Congress’s alleged intention to redistribute wealth if elected, the Prime Minister claimed that the party would go as far as conducting household surveys and even deprive women of their Mangalsutra.
On Tuesday, PM Modi filed his nomination papers from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh, aiming for a third consecutive term. He aims to secure victory with a substantial margin.
The sitting MP and BJP candidate, PM Modi, submitted his nomination papers at the district magistrate’s office. Varanasi will go to polls in the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections on June 1.
