Despite ECI's warning, BJP repeats 'Muslims' charge at Congress
What's the story
The Bharatiya Janata Party stepped up its attack on the Congress over "preferential treatment to Muslims" on Friday.
In a video message, BJP President JP Nadda accused the Congress of having a covert plan to transfer rights from disadvantaged groups to Muslims for political gain.
This criticism follows a notice issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to the BJP regarding divisive comments made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Congress's manifesto.
Context
Why does this story matter?
The ECI issued a notice to Nadda on Thursday following a complaint filed by opposition parties alleging that PM Modi breached the MCC during his speech in Banswara, Rajasthan, on Sunday.
According to a complaint filed by the Congress, PM Modi claimed that the opposition party wished to redistribute the riches of the people to Muslims and would not spare women's "mangalsutra."
This was the first time the ECI took cognizance of a MCC complaint against a sitting prime minister.
Accusations
Nadda claims Congress wants to snatch rights of SC, ST
Nadda further stated that while the Congress believes "the first right to resources of the country is that of Muslims," PM Modi asserts that "the first right to resources of the country is that of the poor."
He referenced a 2009 statement by former PM Manmohan Singh, asserting that Singh "didn't make...statement mistakenly."
Nadda emphasized that Singh had deliberately stated "minorities, especially Muslims, should be given priority and the first right to resources of the country should be theirs."
Past remarks
Nadda accused UPA government of manipulating Sachar Committee Report
This, according to Nadda, is evidence of the Congress' perceived favoritism towards a particular community.
Nadda also accused the previous UPA government of manipulating data in the Sachar Committee Report to portray Muslims as being worse off than SCs and STs.
He claimed that "false statements were made...it was said that Muslims are in worse shape than Dalits."
Nadda suggested this manipulation was part of a plan to "declare Muslims SC and provide facilities of SC reservations to them."
Amit Shah
Will India work as per Sharia? Shah asks Rahul Gandhi
Simultaneously, Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah claimed on Friday that the Congress party's manifesto promises to retain religious personal laws.
In a scathing attack on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Shah asked, "I would like to ask Rahul Gandhi, will this country now work as per Sharia?...Our Constitution is secular, laws of the land can't be formed on the basis of religion."