Modi claims ‘divine power’ ahead of election victory

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a series of increasingly inflammatory statements in the latter days of polling in the country’s general election, including sectarian incitements and messianic claims.

“While my mother was alive, I had the impression that perhaps my birth was a biological one,” he said in an interview with a news channel. “After her demise when I view after assimilating all the experiences, I am convinced that God has [sent me] and blessed me with divine power.”

Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition Indian Nation Congress, responded that an ordinary person would have been referred to a psychiatrist for making this sort of statement.

Modi’s apparent claim to be God’s emissary, which critics said was intended to “woo the illiterate grassroots people”, followed his outbursts attacking opposition candidates and Muslims during the campaign.

At an election rally in Dumka in eastern Jharkhand state on 28 May, Modi criticised the state government – led by the Congress ally Jharkhand Mukti Morcha party – for changing the weekly holiday for some schools in Jamtara district from Sunday to Friday, to appease Muslim voters.

Modi said the Sunday holiday tradition in India originated from the British colonial era and was associated with the Christian community. He claimed “the opposition, after targeting Hindus, is now also targeting Christians”.

A low turnout in the early days of polling from 19 April seemed to alarm Modi, leading him to abandon decorum and attack Muslims in a series of speeches for his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), starting at Banswara in Rajasthan state on 21 April when he referred to Muslims as “infiltrators” and “those with more children” echoing Hindu nationalist conspiracy theories.

He also claimed that the Congress planned to take reservations from Schedule Castes, Schedule Tribes and other “Backward Communities” and grant them to Muslims.

“When [Congress] were in power earlier, they said that Muslims have the first right to the country’s resources,” he said. “So, who will they redistribute resources to? Those who have more children. Those who are infiltrators.”

Opposition parties complained to the Election Commission of India that the premier was spreading falsehoods and trying to divide religious communities – a serious offence that could have barred Modi from standing. However, no charges were pursued.

“In the history of India, no prime minister has lowered the dignity of his post as much as Modi,” said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in a social media post.

Modi claimed victory for his ruling coalition as counting neared completion on Tuesday. However, the BJP failed to win an outright majority for itself in the Loksabha – the lower house of the Indian parliament – as it did in the two previous elections, while its coalition was set to fall short of the super-majority some anticipated.

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