PM Modi outreach in Aligarh: ‘Ended triple talaq, raised Haj quota’

“The lives of many daughters, who were victims of triple talaq, were ruined. Due to this, the whole family would face problems. Modi has secured their lives by making a law against triple talaq,” he said.

“Earlier, there used to be fights due to less Haj quota. Bribery was prevalent and only the influential got the chance to go,” he said. “I requested the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia to increase the Haj quota for Indian Muslims. Today, not only has India’s Haj quota increased, but visa rules have been made easier. Earlier, Muslim mothers and sisters could not go alone for Haj. The government gave permission to go to Haj without Mahram. Thousands of sisters, whose dream of going for Haj has been fulfilled, are blessing me,” Modi said.

On Sunday, speaking at a rally in Rajasthan’s Banswara, Modi had said: “Earlier, when they (the Congress) were in power, they had said Muslims have the first right to the wealth of the nation. This means they will distribute this wealth to those who have more children, to infiltrators.”

His remarks had prompted a backlash from the Opposition, with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge calling it “hate speech”.

On Monday, Modi reiterated that the Congress wanted to redistribute wealth. “The Congress and INDIA bloc have their eyes on your earnings, on your property. The shehzaada of Congress says that if his government comes to power, he will get an investigation done into who earns how much, who has how much property… Not only this, he also says that their government will take possession of these properties and distribute them to everyone. This is what their manifesto says,” he said.

“Our mothers and sisters have gold… Voh stree dhan hai (that is stree dhan). It is considered sacred and the law also protects it. But a game is being played to snatch the property of mothers and sisters by changing the law. They are eyeing your mangalsutra. They want to survey the employed class; fixed deposits made for children’s education and marriage will also be investigated,” said Modi.

“If you have a house in the village and you take a flat in the city, they will take away one and give it to someone who does not have it. This is Maoist thinking, this is the thinking of Leftists. How many countries have they already ruined by doing this? The Congress and INDIA bloc want to implement this policy in Bharat too. Congress wants to get its claws on your property. Aapka stree dhan lootna chahti hai (they want to loot your stree dhan),” he said.

The Congress manifesto makes no specific mention of wealth redistribution but promises that, if voted to power, the party will “address the growing inequality of wealth and income through suitable changes in policies”. The first chapter of the manifesto titled “equity” talks about “caste discrimination” as a “reality” and argues that “while OBC, SC and ST constitute nearly 70 per cent of India’s population, their representation in high-ranking professions, services and businesses is disproportionately low”.

Modi contrasted his government with the Congress rule, saying terror attacks were common then but had stopped now, and also praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. “I want to open the eyes of those who keep identifying Yogiji only with bulldozers. Industrial development that did not happen in UP since Independence has happened during Yogiji’s rule,” he said.