Srinagar, India’s opposition has accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of failing to act on multiple complaints against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who they allege has made religious hate speeches and misrepresented facts during the ongoing six-week national election campaign. The opposition claims this inaction has allowed Modi to continue his campaign without regard for electoral rules.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Congress party, leading the opposition, has expressed frustration over the ECI’s lack of meaningful action against Modi and his party. They allege that Modi’s unchecked behavior in his campaign speeches, which target minority groups and misrepresent the opposition’s positions, continues with impunity. The ECI did take some action this week by ordering a social media platform to remove a BJP video that was found to be divisive, yet the commission has not addressed the broader complaints directly involving Modi.
The controversy surrounds Modi’s campaign narratives that frame the Congress party as favoring Muslims over other disadvantaged groups, which the opposition deems false and provocative. Modi, aiming for a third consecutive term, has been particularly vocal about the redistribution of wealth to minority communities, characterizing it in a way that has stirred significant controversy.
Former ECI head SY Qureshi commented on the situation, noting that the delay in addressing these complaints threatens the credibility of the electoral process and, by extension, the democratic legitimacy of the nation. Additionally, Congress lawmaker Abhishek Manu Singhvi, after a meeting with ECI officials, emphasized that timely action is critical, and failure to act constitutes an abdication of constitutional duty.
The report also noted a recent statement from Arvind Kejriwal, a top opposition leader and Delhi’s Chief Minister, who was provisionally released from jail to continue his campaign. Kejriwal has been vocal in his criticism of Modi, accusing him of orchestrating political conspiracies against opposition leaders, including criminal investigations and arrests.
As the elections proceed, the role of the ECI and its handling of these complaints remains a focal point of controversy, with potential long-term impacts on the integrity of India’s democratic processes.