The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) has taken a decisive step by filing a petition in the Madras High Court, seeking judicial intervention against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s purported communal remarks made during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections campaign.

Led by its president, K Selvaperunthagai, the TNCC has raised concerns over Prime Minister Modi’s speeches, alleging them to be not only inflammatory but also derogatory, particularly targeting the Muslim community and the Congress party.

The petition, represented by counsel A P Suryaprakasam, initially encountered procedural obstacles in receiving a case number from the HC Registry. Despite the sensitive nature of the allegations against the Prime Minister, the Registry hesitated to expedite the process, prompting the TNCC to seek judicial guidance.

Justices A D Jagadish Chandira and R Kalaimathi, presiding over a summer vacation bench, intervened in the matter, advising the TNCC’s counsel to address the Registry’s queries to ensure the petition’s numbering.

At the heart of the TNCC’s plea lies the contention that Prime Minister Modi’s election speeches, spanning various venues since April 21, have crossed the line into “divisive” territory. The allegations leveled against him range from labeling Muslims as “infiltrators” to implying preferential treatment for them over Hindus in terms of national wealth.

The TNCC argues that such rhetoric not only fuels communal discord but also seeks to instill fear among citizens, thereby fostering an environment of inter-community strife.