Opposition parties have attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his comments during an election rally in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday where he said if there was a ‘kabaristaan’ (graveyard), there should be a ‘shamshaan’ (cremation ground) too.

While the Congress has approached the Election Commission against the speech, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Modi’s comments are out of desperation.

Congress’s deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma said Modi’s statement was aimed at creating polarisation. “Our Constitution does not allow anyone to divide the nation, be it on caste or religion basis. The Prime Minister is not above the Constitution or the law. We expect the Election Commission to take appropriate action on this,” he said.

Citing the strict directions of the Election Commission, Sharma said evoking passions and dividing the society on the basis of religion or caste is punishable.

“In doing do, he is disrespecting the Constitution and violating the oath of his office,” Sharma said.

“They wear masks and in a hurry, this mask seems to have fallen. Prime Minister Modi, true to his form, is vitiating the atmosphere during another election time. He has tried to stir communal tension and to polarise the society.

“The Prime Minister’s speech where he spoke of graveyards and crematoriums shows his mindset,” Sharma said and added that the Prime Minister should actually reflect and go in for atonement and course correction.

Kejriwal said the BJP is losing Uttar Pradesh. “Modi’s statements show that the BJP is getting defeated in Uttar Pradesh badly and he is nervous about it,” Kejriwal tweeted.