NEW DELHI ¨C Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called Muslims ¡°infiltrators¡± who would take India¡¯s wealth if his opponents gained power ¡ª unusually direct and divisive language from a leader who normally lets others do the dirtiest work of polarizing Hindus against Muslims.
Modi, addressing voters in the state of Rajasthan, referred to a remark once made by Manmohan Singh, his predecessor from the opposition Indian National Congress Party. Singh, Modi claimed, had ¡°said that 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.¡±
Modi aimed his emotional appeal at women, addressing ¡°my mothers and sisters¡± to say that his Congress opponents would take their gold and give it to Muslims.
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