'Never distinguished any community': Manmohan Singh counters Modi's 'Muslim wealth' remark

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh slammed his successor Narendra Modi for misconstruing his remarks to wrongly claim that Muslims have the first right to the nation's wealth. In a letter addressed to the citizens ahead of the last phase of the Lok Sabha election in Punjab, Singh in a veiled reference to the speech said that he had “never distinguished one community from another”.

In the three-page letter, Singh said that Modi is the first prime minister to have reduced the dignity of the office, by engaging in vile, unparliamentary, and low-level language to target a particular section or opposition.

He said, "I have been watching the political discussion very carefully during this election campaign. Modiji has engaged in vile hate speeches, which are downright divisive. Modi ji is the first Prime Minister who has reduced the dignity of office, and with it the seriousness of the Prime Minister’s office. No previous Prime Minister used such vile, unparliamentary and low-level language to target a particular section or opposition. They have also given me some wrong statements. I have never in my life distinguished one community from another. This is the special right and habit of BJP.”

He urged the voters of Punjab to vote to save democracy and the Constitution.

“I appeal to every voter of Punjab to vote for development and coordinated progress. I urge all young people to vote carefully, and to vote for the future. Only Congress can guarantee a development-led progressive future, where democracy and the Constitution will be protected.”

Modi, in his every election rally had been repeatedly claiming that Congress aims to redistribute wealth from Hindus, and give to Hindus.

Congress’s manifesto says they will take stock of the gold mothers and daughters have, and will distribute that wealth. Manmohan Singh’s government had said Muslims have the first right to wealth. Brothers and sisters, this Urban Naxal thinking will not spare even the mangal sutras of my mothers and sisters.”