Congress would give Hindus' wealth to infiltrators
| Congress would give Hindus' wealth to infiltrators | |
|---|---|
| MISLEADING | |
| "Narendra Modi said a Congress government would take people's wealth, even women's mangalsutras, and distribute it to "infiltrators" and "those who have more children," citing Manmohan Singh." | |
| Domain | Politics & Elections |
| Tactic | False Context Propaganda Technique |
| Era | Current |
| First seen | 2024 |
| Origin | Narendra Modi's campaign speech in Banswara, Rajasthan, April 21, 2024 |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-30 |
| Further reading: books on Politics & Elections | |
At a rally in Banswara, Rajasthan, on April 21, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that when Congress was in power it had said Muslims had the "first claim" on the nation's resources. He said Congress would collect people's wealth, including mothers' and sisters' gold and mangalsutras (marriage necklaces), and give it to "those who have more children" and "infiltrators."
The speech rested on a distorted version of a 2006 remark by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and on claims about the Congress manifesto that it did not contain.
What the evidence shows
- The 2006 remark. In a December 2006 speech to the National Development Council, Manmohan Singh said scheduled castes and tribes, other backward classes, minorities, women and children must have "the first claim on resources," and that minorities, particularly Muslims, should share equitably in development. He was talking about development spending, not confiscating private wealth.
- The manifesto. The 2024 Congress manifesto promised a socioeconomic and caste census and welfare programs. It did not propose seizing private assets or redistributing them to Muslims.
- Complaint. The Election Commission issued a notice to the BJP president over complaints about the speech.
Why it matters
Election speeches that tie a rival to taking voters' wealth for a religious minority can inflame communal tension. Checking the original remark and manifesto shows how far the claim moved from the record.
Sources
- Prime Minister's Office, India, "PM's address at the National Development Council meeting," December 9, 2006 (Manmohan Singh speech text).
- Indian National Congress, Nyay Patra (2024 election manifesto).
- Reuters, "India's election body asks BJP to respond to complaints over Modi speech," April 25, 2024.