Indian Elections: Modi Indulges in Alarmism Based on Lies & Hate

The second phase of the Indian Elections was on 26 Apr. 160M citizens in 88 constituencies across 13 states and union territories were eligible to vote. The final voter percentage was 66%, a dip of 3% (early numbers reported 10%) from the second Phase election in 2019. The voter turnout was low in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, highest in Tripura. While the Indian PM Narendra Modi tweeted the Phase has been ‘too good,’ overall the elections are marked by his catalog of lies and hate speeches. On his scapegoating Muslims on 21 Apr, initially the Election Commission (EC) declined to comment (SDW Vol. 2 Issue 17, Story 1). When political parties and 17,400 citizens wrote to EC to urge the body to send a notice to PM Modi, it instead sent it to the BJP chief JP Nadda. This is the first time a sitting PM has been asked to explain a violation of the Model of Conduct. In his speeches, PM Modi hardly talks about the BJP manifesto or the party’s claims on development. He indulges in alarmism by saying if INC comes to power they will survey, seize, and redistribute private wealth, snatch the gold jewelry of married Hindu women, and introduce religion-based reservations — all to exclusively benefit Muslims. A fact check shows neither INC manifesto nor INC leaders have said this. All INC has promised is a socio-economic and caste survey to understand who the marginalized communities are and how to help them. On 22 Apr, SAD criticized PM Modi saying, ‘Guru Nanak Dev has taught us to treat all human beings as equal and seek good for everyone. PM Modi has undermined our Constitution.’