New Delhi: Former Prime Minister and Congress leader Manmohan Singh reiterated his statement from the 2009 Lok Sabha elections about Muslims having the "first right" to the country's resources. A video of the former Prime Minister has surfaced in which he stands firm on his previous statement. The BJP has criticized the Congress based on this video.

The BJP posted a video of Manmohan Singh on X, stating, "In April 2009, just before the general elections, Dr. Manmohan Singh reiterated his statement that minorities, particularly poor Muslims, should be given priority in access to the country's resources. He clearly said he stood by his previous statement that Muslims should have the first claim on resources." The BJP's post further said, "This clear statement from Dr. Manmohan Singh refutes Congress's denials and proves that prioritizing Muslims over others is the party's explicit policy. This mentality extends from reservations to resource allocation, showcasing Congress's mindset of prioritizing Muslims in every aspect."

April 2009: In the run up to Lok Sabha election, Dr Manmohan Singh, reiterated his statement that minorities, especially poor Muslims, should get priority when it comes to the nation’s resources. He categorically stated that he stood by his earlier assertion that Muslims should… pic.twitter.com/sNTYa5WSfM

— BJP (@BJP4India) April 26, 2024

In the video shared by the BJP, Manmohan Singh can be heard saying, "I did not say (inaudible)... I said that minorities, especially Muslim minorities, if they are poor, have the first claim on the country's resources. I said that all types of minorities, especially Muslim minorities, have a right, and I stand by my statement." This statement references the former Prime Minister's similar statement from 2006.

In December 2006, Singh stated at an event, "We need to formulate plans for minorities, especially Muslims, to empower them to benefit equally from our development. They should have the first claim on resources." This statement was also mentioned verbatim on the PMO website. The statement sparked significant controversy at the time, and the PMO attempted damage control the following day. However, the 2009 video shows that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stood by his statement even then.

Prime Minister Modi recently referenced Manmohan Singh's statement during an election rally, criticizing Congress's promise of reallocation of the country's assets. He claimed that Congress wants to take away women's mangalsutras to give them to those whom it believes have the first right to the country's wealth. Despite Congress's attempts to deny this claim, the recent video of Manmohan Singh has once again raised questions about the party's stance.

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