Modi’s ‘hate speech’ against Muslims investigated by India’s election commission

Amnesty and other international rights groups say Modi’s comments ‘demonise the Muslim community’ and put them at risk of human rights violations. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports

Narendra Modi greets supporters during a roadshow in Bhopal (Getty)

The language used by India’s prime minister Narendra Modi – appearing to refer to the country’s Muslim population as “infiltrators” – has sparked outrage among the opposition, who have described it as hate speech and accused the prime minister of dragging India’s democracy into the gutter.

Now, the Election Commission of India has sent a notice to Mr Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) confirming that it is investigating the speech, which was made during a campaign rally last weekend, for possibly constituting a breach of election rules.

That the notice of a possible violation of the electoral code has gone to Mr Modi’s party, and not to him personally, is unusual. Nonetheless, it represents the first time in India’s independent history that the commission has recognised a complaint against a sitting prime minister.