Over 17,400 Indians wrote letters to the Election Commission on Monday seeking action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks that the Congress would distribute citizens' property among "infiltrators' if voted to power in the Lok Sabha elections, reports the Scroll.
"The prime minister, while campaigning as the Star Pracharak made a speech on April 21 in Rajasthan that has disturbed the sentiments of millions of Constitution respecting citizens of India. The speech is dangerous and a direct attack on the Muslims of India," said a group in a petition to the poll panel.
On Sunday, Modi said: "When the Congress-led government was in power, they had said that Muslims have the first right over the country's assets. This means that they will distribute wealth to those who have more children and those who are infiltrators. Is this acceptable to you?"
The citizens group pointed out to the Election Commission that Modi's use of pejorative language against Muslims in a bid to seek votes "seriously undermines India's stature as the 'Mother of Democracy' in the world'.
"The Election Commission's failure to take any action against such hate speech will only undermine its credibility and autonomy that has been safeguarded and upheld by a series of exemplary officers before you,' the petition read.