Shiromani Akali Dal chief slams Modi for statements spreading 'communal hatred & venom'

'Be it rich, poor, Hindu, Christian or Muslim. The country's prime minister should not make such a statement. I also want to urge the BJP that this country is of all and all religions,' Badal said.

Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks on 'redistribution of wealth' made at a Lok Sabha election poll rally in Rajasthan, saying he should never have made such a statement which spread 'communal hatred'.

Addressing a rally in Rajasthan's Banswara on Sunday, the prime minister had said the Congress plans to give people's hard-earned money and valuables to 'infiltrators' and 'those who have more children'.

He said, "Earlier, when their (Congress) government was in power, they had said that Muslims have the first right on the country's assets. This means to whom will this property be distributed? It will be distributed among those who have more children".

Reacting to the prime minister's remarks, Badal said the prime minister should never have made statements that "spread communal hatred, mutual suspicion and venom among people of our own country".

Speaking to reporters in Jalandhar, Badal said the country's prime minister is the prime minister of all.

"Be it rich, poor, Hindu, Christian or Muslim. The country's prime minister should not make such a statement. I also want to urge the BJP that this country is of all and all religions," he said.

Congress on Monday accused him of attempting to create communal polarisation for electoral gains and complained to the Election Commission seeking action against him for his remarks, alleging they were 'divisive', 'malicious' and targeted a particular religious community.