‘Called a spade a spade…’: BJP's Gaurav Bhatia on PM Modi's alleged 'communal' remarks

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: As the Opposition charged against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his alleged “communal remarks”, Bharatiya Janata Party national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia on Monday said he only called a spade a spade and has echoed the sentiments of people.

In an election rally in Rajasthan's Banswara earlier, PM Modi had said that the Congress party has plans to redistribute gold and hard-earned money to "illegal immigrants" and asked people whether this is acceptable to them or not.

"They (Congress) have said that gold owned by our sisters would be equally distributed. Does the government have the right to take your hard-earned property?" PM Modi had said.

Also read: 'Congress will snatch your wealth and distribute among those with more children', says PM Modi

Talking to reporters, Bhatia said the opposition is in pain as PM Modi has showed them the mirror about its past.

“His remarks have resonated with people as for the opposition INDIA bloc those who have illegally entered the country are more important than citizens if they happen to be Muslims,” the BJP leader alleged.

Also read: PM Modi says Congress wants to redistribute wealth. What exactly does the party's manifesto say?

The prime minister's remark snowballed into a political slugfest as the Congress accused PM Modi of attempting to create “communal polarisation for electoral gains”.

While Congress MP Shashi Tharoor termed prime minister's comment as “disgraceful”.

"This is just a nakedly communal appeal, which normally any civilised Election Commission would disallow and warn the candidate for speaking like this. It is simply not decent," Tharoor told news agency ANI.

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal also slammed PM Modi and asked whether 20 crore people in the country mattered to him or not. He also added that Election Commission of India must issue notice to him over the comments.

 “You (PM Modi) are giving a speech that the Congress will give the properties of the women to infiltrators and terrorists. Do 20 crore people do not matter to him? Do they not have any aspirations? Politics has stooped down to such a level and it has not happened in history and I do not want it to happen,” Sibal said while addressing a press conference. 

(With agency inputs)