Divide and win
THE WEEK India|May 05, 2024
I am blown by the amount of research the BJP's speechwriters have put in. They have gone way back in time to dig out and wilfully misquote something Manmohan Singh said in 2006 at a meeting of the National Development Council (NDC), which is "Our collective priorities are clear. 
ANUJA CHAUHAN
Divide and win

Agriculture, irrigation and water resources, health, education... along with programmes for the upliftment of SC/STs, other backward classes, minorities and women and children... 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..."

It is interesting to note that after making this 'deeply worrying' statement, Singh still managed to get re-elected in 2009-clearly proving that a majority of voters were chill with what he had said. My guess is that the majority of voters are still chill with what he said.

This story is from the May 05, 2024 edition of THE WEEK India.

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This story is from the May 05, 2024 edition of THE WEEK India.

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