Indian election authorities seek responses to complaints against Premier Modi, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) – Indian election authorities on Thursday said they have sought responses from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the main opposition Indian National Congress party on alleged violations of poll rules in the speeches made during the ongoing election campaigning for general elections.

While the BJP has been served a notice over a speech by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week in western Rajasthan state, the Congress party has been issued a notice over the speech made by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi.

Voting to elect 543 lawmakers to the lower house of India’s parliament, known as the Lok Sabha, is being held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1. The second phase of voting will take place on Friday and the vote count will take place on June 4.

In the notice issued to BJP head Jagat Prakash Nadda, the election commission said it had received notices from several parties alleging violation of poll rules by speech during campaigning.

The complainants had mainly focused on the speech made by Modi, who referred to Muslims as "infiltrators” and “those who have more children."

Modi last week during his speech said: "Earlier, when they (Congress party) were in power, they had said Muslims have the first right to the wealth of the nation. This means they will distribute the country’s wealth, among those who have more children and among infiltrators.”

“Congress manifesto says they will take stock of the gold mothers and daughters have, and will distribute that wealth,” he added.

The comments made in Rajasthan during an election rally triggered condemnation by opposition parties and Muslim groups, and even the ruling party later said Modi's comments were "misinterpreted."

Separately, in the notice issued to Congress party head Mallikarjun Kharge, the election commission sought a response from the party following a complaint sent by BJP.

The ruling party, citing Gandhi’s speeches, has accused him of creating a “linguistic and cultural divide in the minds of people of India for electoral gains.”

Both parties have been asked to send their comments by April 29.