EPS hits out PM Modi for his controversial remarks against minorities

CHENNAI: Two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's controversial speech against minorities at the election campaign in Rajasthan, Leader of Opposition and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami criticised Modi for whipping up communal hatred and creating fear among minorities.

Calling Modi's remarks on Muslims "unacceptable", Palaniswami in a statement said it was not appropriate for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who holds the top position in the country, to make controversial remarks. It was against secularism.

"The remarks that hurt the Muslim community are unacceptable. Political party leaders and persons holding top positions in the government should refrain from making such comments for the welfare of the country and its community harmony, " he said in response to Modi's speech at the poll campaign in Rajasthan's Banswara on Sunday, which attracted strong criticism from the national and international community.

Modi, at the campaign, called the Muslims "infiltrators" and said that if Congress returned to power, it would distribute the country's assets to the infiltrators who have more children. "Should your hard-earned money go to the infiltrators? Do you approve of this?" Modi asked the emotionally charged crowd at the election campaign.

Pointing to this speech, Palaniswami said India is a secular country. He dissuaded the PM from whipping up communal hatred through politically loaded speeches for electoral gains.

Senior AIADMK leader and party spokesperson D Jayakumar later in the day said that the party was "strongly condemning the statement of the PM". He continued that the AIADMK party and its leadership would stick to its core ideology of communal harmony and voice against forces promoting communal hatred for political gains.