Ex-India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad (File).
New Delhi:
Former cricketer Venkatesh Prasad has clattered into the political row triggered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s controversial election speech in Rajasthan this weekend – by which he referred to the nation’s Muslim neighborhood and alleged the Congress plans to “redistribute assets among infiltrators” ought to it return to energy after this yr’s election. The ex-India pacer drew a cricketing analogy.
“One of the political party’s manifestos is to redistribute wealth of the rich to the poor. The poor need to be uplifted but this thought process is so pathetic,” Mr Prasad declared on X (previously Twitter).
“It is like saying ‘if we take 4 points from Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, and re-distribute it to the bottom 3 teams, they can make the playoffs.”
One of the political celebration’s manifesto is to redistribute the wealth of the wealthy to the poor. The actually poor must be uplifted however this thought course of is so pathetic.
It is like saying If we take four factors from RR and four from KKR and SRH and re-distribute it to the underside 3…— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) April 22, 2024
PM Modi’s speech in Rajasthan’s Banswara this weekend triggered livid pushback from the opposition and a bit of civil society activists. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi hit out on the “lies” and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi mentioned the Prime Minister’s solely ‘assure’ is “to abuse Muslims…” Samajwadi Party boss Akhilesh Yadav – who’s a part of the Congress-led INDIA opposition bloc – additionally referred to as out the “lies”.
READ |Â PM’s “Wealth To Infiltrators” Jab And Manmohan Singh’s 2006 Speech
PM Modi had mentioned, “This ‘urban Naxal’ mindset… they will not even leave your ‘mangalsutra’. They can go to that level… Congress manifesto says they will calculate gold with mothers and sisters, get information about it, and then distribute that property. They will distribute it to whom – Manmohan Singh’s government had said Muslims have first right on assets.”
PM Modi was referring to an announcement by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh – on whom he lavished reward in February, calling him an “inspirational example” – in December 2006 at a gathering of the National Development Council on the fiscal priorities of his authorities.
READ |Â Row After PM Says “Congress To Distribute Assets Among Infiltrators”
According to the then Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Singh had mentioned, “… We will have to devise innovative plans to ensure that minorities, particularly the Muslim minority, are empowered to share equitably in the fruits of development. They must have first claim on resources…”
The swipe, in the meantime, comes as PM Modi and the ruling BJP ramp up assaults on the Congress-led INDIA, which many see as a problem to the saffron celebration’s hopes of a hat-trick of Lok Sabha ballot wins.
PM Modi has additionally accused the Congress’ election manifest of being a “Muslim League imprint” and a “bundle of lies”. “Congress issued a bundle of lies in its manifesto… every page reeks of attempts to tear India apart. It reflects the thoughts the Muslim League had before independence,” he had mentioned.
READ |Â “Its Best Friend…”: M Kharge On BJP’s “Muslim League Imprint” Jab
Ex-Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav made a “folded hands” appeal to the Prime Minister, urging him to stay to discussing ” real issues”, resembling the price of residing disaster.
Since then, and unfazed by the criticism and calls for of motion by the Election Commission of India, the Prime Minister has repeated his assaults. At Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh at the moment he declared “Congress and INDI alliance are now eyeing your income, your property…”
READ |Â PM Doubles Down Amid Row: ‘Congress Will Take Your Homes, Jewels’
Meanwhile, this isn’t the primary time Venkatesh Prasad has spoken out towards the Congress and appeared to aspect with the BJP. In December he taunted the celebration over impending defeats within the Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan state elections.
“Abusing Sanatana Dharma was bound to have its consequences,” he posted on X.
READ |Â “Abusing Sanatana…”: Ex Cricketer’s Dig At Congress Amid Poll Results
Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK chief Udhayanidhi Stalin stirred up a serious political controversy when he mentioned “Sanatana Dharma should be eradicated”. Ally Congress, which largely averted wading into the controversy, mentioned the celebration believed in “sarvadharma sambhav” (equal respect to all religions).
NDTV is now accessible on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the most recent updates from NDTV in your chat.