Modi accused of inflaming religious tension as India poll begins

India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. Photo / AP

India's main opposition party was accused of raising religious tensions yesterday as voting began in the biggest election in history.

The Bharatiya Janata Party was attacked by the ruling Congress Party after it pledged to build a temple to the Hindu God Lord Ram at Ayodhya, where the destruction of the Babri Mosque by Hindu extremists in 1992 plunged India into years of communal violence.

Narendra Modi's nationalist party also said it would bring Muslim-majority Kashmir under direct rule from Delhi and end separate codes of personal law for Muslims and other minorities.

The manifesto's release followed the disclosure that Mr Modi's most senior strategist will face charges over a speech last week in which he urged Hindus to take "revenge" against parties that had supported Muslims driven from their homes in religious riots last year.

More than 60 people were massacred and 50,000 forced to flee in a series of attacks in Muzaffarnagar last September. India's Election Commission has asked Amit Shah, Mr Modi's aide, to clarify his remarks.

The BJP's opponents seized on the manifesto to exploit fears among Muslims that a Modi government could see a return to the violence that engulfed Gujarat, where he is chief minister, in 2002. More than 700 Muslims were massacred in the riots which led to Mr Modi being treated as an international pariah by Britain, the United States and the European Union.

Since then, as the possibility of Mr Modi being India's next prime minister has increased, London and Washington have lifted the boycott and held a series of meetings with him. His supporters have claimed he has been cleared of any wrongdoing in his handling of the riots, but the ruling Congress Party has accused him of failing to protect Muslims.

Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi. Photos / AP

Mr Modi has in turn accused Congress and other opponents of hypocrisy and promised he would bring greater security and prosperity for Muslims, citing the higher living standards they enjoy in Gujarat. He said his government would show "zero tolerance" to terrorists and countries that threatened India's security. "There will be such a strong government at the centre that no country dares to threaten us," he said.

Mr Modi's BJP is aiming to form a coalition with more seats than the ruling Congress-led coalition, which has ruled India since 2004.

The BJP is currently ahead in opinion polls, but the election - with 815 million registered voters - will continue across India's 28 states and seven union territories until May 12.