'I didn't say Hindu or Muslim, I referred to...': Modi's response after his 'people with more children' remark stirs row

In an interview with News 18, Modi said, "I am worried how the remark about people with more children is linked to only Muslims! Why do they treat Muslim this way? It is the situation of poor families in our country.

"In whichever society or community, poor families do have more children. I have neither said Hindu or Muslim. I have said people should have children whom they can take care of. There should not be a situation where the government has to take care of their children."

Modi highlighted his 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' mantra claiming his schemes never discriminate among religions.

When asked whether the BJP will be able to attract votes from the Muslim population, Modi said, "I believe the people of my country will vote for me. I will not deserve to be in public life the day I will do Hindu and Muslim (politics). I will never do Hindu and Muslim. This is my promise."

"I talk about 100 percent saturation in my schemes. When I talk about 100 percent saturation, it means true social justice and true secularism," he said.

Modi said he grew up with Muslim neighbours who brought them food during Eid and always respected them and their religious practices. 

Modi's remark stirs row

Speaking at the rally, Modi in his trademark style said, "Earlier during its government, Congress had said Muslims have the first right to the country's assets. This means the assets will be distributed among people who have more children and infiltrators. Should people's hard earned money be distributed among infiltrators?"

"Congress' manifesto is stating that they will calculate the gold of mothers and sisters and then distribute those people, who were called by Manmohan Singh-ji as the first claimants to the country's assets

"This kind of an Urban Naxal thought won't spare the Mangalsutras of women. They will reach this far, I will tell you," the Prime Minister said.

Modi referred to a 2006 speech by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a National Development Council meeting on financial properties of the government.

Singh had said, "I believe our collective priorities are clear: agriculture, irrigation and water resources, health, education, critical investment in rural infrastructure, and the essential public investment needs of general infrastructure, along with programmes for the upliftment of SC/STs, Other Backward Classes, minorities, and women and children.

"The component plans for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will need to be revitalised. We will have to devise innovative plans to ensure that minorities, particularly the Muslim minority, are empowered to share equitably in the fruits of development. They must have the first claim on resources. The Centre has a myriad of other responsibilities whose demands will have to be fitted within the overall resource availability."