Congress has approached the Election Commission, seeking action over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim that if the party comes to power, it will redistribute the country’s wealth in favor of Muslims and hence has an eye on women. Also on “Mangalsutra”. The party has already strongly criticized PM Modi, accusing him of making “divisive comments”.

Its letter to the Commission contained some of the strongest comments in recent times.

“While we have objection to the entire tone and tenor of the Prime Minister’s speech, in this representation we wish to highlight the completely unprecedented and malicious allegations as well as statements that are clearly intended to create enmity between groups. The target, which is worse than ever before by a sitting Prime Minister in the history of India, cannot go unchecked, unpunished,” the letter read.

The party also said that PM Modi and BJP’s repeated comments inciting religious sentiments have been bolstered by the “inaction of the Honorable Commission” in punishing them for “blatant and direct violation of electoral laws”.

“Our Prime Minister had given a speech in Rajasthan, which targeted a particular community which can take away our national resources. That community is linked to infiltrators. Their allegations of attack on Mangalsutra again have a religious connection. This is a gross violation of the ECI circular,” senior party leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said after meeting the commission.

“We are grateful to the ECI for giving us time, we had raised 17 issues which attack the basic principles of our Constitution,” he said.

PM Modi first raised the issue in Rajasthan over the weekend and then reiterated it in western Uttar Pradesh, where elections are due this weekend.

He said, the Congress manifesto promises that if they come to power, “everybody’s property will be surveyed, it will count the gold of the mothers and sisters and then redistribute it. They will look at your Mangalsutra. Will not leave either.”

He also said that when Congress was in power under the leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh, it had said that Muslims have the first right on the country’s property.

“This means that they will collect this wealth and distribute it among those who have more children, among the infiltrators. Will your hard-earned money be given to the infiltrators? Do you accept this? The Congress manifesto is saying this. Yes,” PM Modi had said.