India’s Modi calls for end to hate speeches

India’s opposition prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, has urged his fellow Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members and “well-wishers” to stop making hate speeches and provocative comments.

Modi’s reaction has come after two back-to-back speeches from party member Giriraj Singh who said, “Modi’s critics should go to Pakistan”, followed by the Hindu rightwing Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Praveen Togadia’s remarks, in which he exhorted supporters to bar Muslims from acquiring properties in Hindumajority areas.

“I disapprove any such irresponsible statement & appeal to those making them to kindly refrain from doing so [sic],” Modi, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate said on Twitter yesterday.

“Petty statements by those claiming to be BJP’s wellwishers are deviating the campaign from the issues of development & good governance [sic],” he said.

Modi’s comments have, however, drawn criticism too.