India’s Modi accused of anti-Muslim campaign hate speech

India’s opposition Congress party has lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission over a weekend speech delivered by incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Reuters reported yesterday.

Congress has criticized Modi’s “deeply objectionable” comments, claiming he “blatantly targeted” the country’s 200-million Muslims by using thinly veiled negative statements about “infiltrators,” which it said was a clear reference to Muslims.

Modi’s government has repeatedly been accused of discrimination against Muslims, with civil society, opposition groups, and some foreign governments raising concerns over decisions they say are aimed at fanning discrimination and keeping the BJP in power.