New Delhi, Recent remarks by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging Muslims to refrain from influencing electoral outcomes have drawn sharp criticism from political leaders, activists, and journalists across the country. These comments, made during an interview and subsequently shared on Modi’s social media, have intensified the scrutiny of his and his party’s approach to India’s significant Muslim population during the election season.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Modi’s statements, which included references to Muslims as “infiltrators” and discussions of “vote jihad,” have sparked a widespread response. Critics, including Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi and journalists like Shoaib Daniyal and Suhasini Haider, have condemned these remarks as divisive and harmful to India’s secular fabric. The backlash highlights growing concerns over the political and social ramifications of such rhetoric, which many see as an attempt to marginalize Muslim voters in the democratic process.