‘First PM to lower dignity…’, says Manmohan Singh slamming Narendra Modi for ‘hate speeches’ in LS election campaign

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his ‘divisive hate speeches’ during campaign for Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

Singh, who led the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) governments between 2004 and 2014, said that no Prime Minister in the past has uttered such ‘hateful, unparliamentary and coarse terms, meant to target either a specific section of the society or the opposition.’

“During poll campaign, Modiji has indulged in most vicious form of hate speeches, which are purely divisive in nature. Modi is first PM to lower dignity of public discourse, gravity of office of PM,” Singh said in a letter addressed to voters of Punjab.

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All 13 seats of Punjab are voting in the final phase of Lok Sabha elections in June 1. Singh's remarks come on a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is campaigning in Punjab's Hoshiarpur, on the last day of campaign for the last phase of polling.

Manmohan Singh also blamed PM Modi for attributing some ‘false’ statements to him. The former PM was referring to his 2006 remarks, quoted during poll campaign by top BJP leaders including PM Modi, in which he reportedly said that ‘Muslims should have the first right’ to the country’s resources. The then Prime Minister's Office had clarified that Singh meant the “first claim on resources" would be of SCs, STs, OBCs, women and children, and minorities.

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“I have never in my life singled out one community from the other. That is the sole copyright of the BJP,” he said in his message to Punjab voters.

The high-octane campaign for Lok Sabha Elections 2024ends at 5 pm today, with loudspeakers falling silent ahead of the seventh and the last phase of polling on June 1.

Singh said that people of India are seeing through all of this and that the narrative of dehumaisation has now reached peak. Singh said it's time to save our beloved nation from these forces of discord (BJP).

“With folded hands, I appeal to each one of you to give love, peace, fraternity and harmony a chance in India. I appeal to each voter in Punjab to vote for development and inclusive progress... Only Congress can ensure a growth-oriented progressive future, where democracy and constitution shall be safeguarded,” Manmohan Singh said in the message that ends with a couplet from Urdu poet Muhammad Iqbal's poem ‘Nanak’ based on Guru Nanak - the founder of Sikhism and the first of the 10 gurus of the faith.

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“Phir uthi aḳhir sada tauhid ki Punjab se, hind ko ek mard-e-kamil ne jagaya ḳhwab se,” Singh wrote which loosely translates to ‘The call of monotheism has again arisen from the Punjab, a perfect man has awakened India from slumber.’

Polling for 486 of the 543 Lok Sabha seats was completed after the sixth phase on May 25. The BJP-led NDA is seeking a record third term. The ruling alliance is challenged by the Opposition parties led by the Congress under the banner of the INDIA bloc.

Voters from 57 Lok Sabha constituencies spread across eight states and Union Territories will exercise their franchise in the seventh and final phase of polling on Saturday, marking the end of about 44-day-long polling exercise. 

The results of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will be declared on June 4.