New Delhi, April 22 (Agency) The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has written to the Chief Election Commissioner of India, Rajiv Kumar, urging proceedings against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly indulging in hate speech directed against a community, while campaigning during the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury in a letter to Rajiv Kumar on Monday said that the PM has given ‘highly inflammatory speech’ while addressing a public meeting in Banswara, Rajasthan, on April 21 and it has been carried in some newspapers on their front page. The Left leader said:, “While addressing a public meeting in Banswara, Rajasthan, on April 21, the Prime Minister alluding to Muslims reportedly also said that “should your hard-earned money be given to those with more children, infiltrators?”. .. the speech has been widely reported in mainstream media and social media outlets”.
He said that targeting of any particular community is a total violation of Section 123 (3) of the Representation of People’s Act and the Model Code of Conduct, adding, “This is as brazen as it could get in indulgence in hate speech directed against a community. We have earlier precedents of banning leaders for such hate speeches”. “We would urge upon the ECI to take cognizance of this latest complaint also and immediately launch proceedings against Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party. An FIR also needs to be lodged against him for inciting communal passions and hatred. Immediate action is called for to stop public debates and discussions from plummeting further,” Yechury said. The CPI(M) leader said that any failure on the part of the ECI to take suitable action will further undermine its credibility as an autonomous institution and lead to further vitiation of the environment for a free and fair poll.