The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has stirred controversy by sharing what it claims to be "video evidence" of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh advocating for preferential treatment for Muslims in the allocation of resources.
According to the BJP, Singh unequivocally stated that "Muslims should have first right when it comes to resources," indicating a bias towards the community within the Congress party.
In a post on its X (previously Twitter) handle, the BJP shared a video purportedly showing Singh reiterating his stance during the run-up to the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. The video allegedly depicts Singh affirming his belief that minorities, particularly impoverished Muslims, should receive priority in accessing the nation's resources.
“This unequivocal assertion by Dr Manmohan Singh demolishes the Congress’ canards and clarifications on his previous statement. It supports our assertion that preferential treatment to Muslims is a clear policy of the Congress Party. This is further proof of the Congress mindset to give preference to Muslims in everything, from reservation to resources," the post also reads.
The BJP's assertion aims to challenge the Congress Party's denials and clarifications regarding Singh's previous statements, suggesting that the preference for Muslims is a consistent policy within the Congress ranks.
The BJP's post further accuses the Congress of harbouring a mindset that prioritises Muslims across various domains, including reservation policies and resource allocation.
This development emerges amid a contentious debate surrounding the Congress' manifesto, particularly its inclusion of provisions for introducing personal laws tailored to a specific community.
The BJP alleges that such measures indicate the Congress' intent to impose Sharia law, akin to a Taliban-style rule, in India.
BJP President JP Nadda condemned the Congress, accusing it of seeking to redistribute rights from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes to Muslims.
Slamming Congress, Nadda said, "The hidden agenda of Congress and INDI Alliance is to snatch away the rights of SC, ST, OBC and give the same to Muslims. Congress says that the first right to resources of the country is that of Muslims. Whereas, PM Narendra Modi says that the first right to resources of the country is that of the poor."
He further added, “Manmohan Singh did not make that statement mistakenly. He did it deliberately because while answering a question in April 2009 - during a press conference in Mumbai - he stood by his statement and said that minorities, especially Muslims, should be given priority and the first right to resources of the country should be theirs."
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