Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Constitution, 'vote jihad' and minority quota ruled BJP, Congress campaigning in Phase 3

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BJP leader Narendra Modi said, "INDI Alliance is asking Muslims to do 'vote jihad'. This is new because we have so far heard about 'love jihad' and 'land jihad'," said Modi, referring to a string of Islamophobic conspiracy theories, before emphasising to his audience why they needed to be fearful. "I hope you all know what the meaning of jihad is and against whom it is waged," This statement came after Samajwadi Party leader Maria Alam, while addressing a gathering in Uttar Pradesh, urged Muslim voters in India to carry out 'Jihad' of 'votes' as the 'only' method to usurp PM Modi.

The use of the word sparked a row, following which Maria Alam clarified that 'Jihad' is an Arabic word for struggle and that she had been encouraging Muslims to vote in more significant numbers. Prime Minister Modi has been vocal in accusing the Congress of being anti-backward class, alleging that the opposition party opposes Dalits and other Backward Classes. He claimed during election rallies that if the Congress were to assume power, it might “rob" OBCs of their reservation benefits to allocate them to the Muslim minority.

Stressing this rhetoric, BJP leaders and, especially, PM Modi have said that Congress will take away the mangalsutra of Hindu women to distribute it among Muslims. The ruling party is under scrutiny by both the Congress and the opposition, who claim that their aim of securing over 400 seats in the election is tied to altering the Constitution. They fear such a majority could pave the way for the ruling party to revoke reservation benefits for SC, ST, and OBC communities.