India election: Modi falls back on anti-Muslim rhetoric in bid to boost BJP’s poll fortunes

His apparent reversion to sectarian politics has raised concerns about a breach of election standards, even as observers say the move is unlikely to add to the Hindu-nationalist BJP’s existing vote bank.

“When you are continuously targeting a community and they are not responding, not showing any aggression then there is a fatigue that comes in,” said Ajay Gudavarthy, a political theorist and associate professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University’s Centre for Political Studies. “People are now bored, this Hindu-Muslim [divide] is no longer getting traction on the ground.”

“When they [the opposition Congress party] were in power, they said Muslims have first right over resources,” Modi was filmed saying to a thunderous roar from supporters. “They will gather all your wealth and distribute it among those who have more children. They will distribute it among infiltrators.”

The clip caused an uproar on social media, with Modi accused of resorting to “communal hatred” by opponents, who claimed the first phase of the polls had not gone in the BJP’s favour – even though no statistics are yet available to confirm if this is true.

Modi’s remarks at Sunday’s rally prompted a raft of complaints from Indian journalists, academics, lawyers and political experts, who urged the country’s Election Commission to take immediate action.

The commission’s own guidelines, known as the Model Code of Conduct, call on political parties and candidates to refrain from using language or engaging in activities “which may aggravate existing differences, or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic”.

Renowned Indian journalist and author Ravish Kumar called Modi’s remarks “shameful” and said many