PM Modi slams Opposition over Rahul Gandhi's 'Shakti' remark: 'Insult to Hindu religion...'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday once again took aim at the Opposition parties and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the latter's 'Shakti' remark. "During their first rally in Mumbai, they made statements about destroying 'Shakti', about fighting against 'Shakti'...Their statement has been a sheer insult to the Hindu religion, Hindu faith," Modi said. 

Speaking at a public gathering in Tamil Nadu's Salem, the prime minister said, "Hamare shastra sakshi hai ki vinash unka hota hai jo Shakti ko khatam karne ka vichar rakhte hai...[Our scriptures bear witness to the fact that destruction happens to those who think of destroying power]."

"The INDI alliance of the DMK [Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam] and the Congress does not insult any other religion. It does not utter a single word against any other religion. However, when it comes to the Hindu religion, they don't leave any chance to abuse and insult it," PM Modi said.

"In Hinduism, Shakti means Matru shakthi, naari shakti (women's power)...the INDI alliance which has the Congress and the DMK says they will destroy this," he stated.

The INDIA bloc is a coalition of over 45 opposition parties formed to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.

Rahul Gandhi's ‘shakti’ remark

PM Modi was referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's statement during a speech at Shivaji Park in Mumbai after the conclusion of his 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra'. He had said: “Our fight against Modi is not on a personal level. Modi is a 'mask' who works for a 'Shakti' (power). He is a shallow man who doesn’t have a 56-inch chest.”

"There is a word 'Shakti' in Hinduism. We are fighting against a Shakti. The question is, what is that Shakti. The soul of the King is in the EVM. This true. The soul of the king is in the EVM and every institution of the country, in ED, CBI and Income Tax department.…," Gandhi said at the INDIA rally in Mumbai.

Addressing poll rallies in Telangana and Karnataka on Monday, the prime minister was quoted by PTI as saying that the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will be a fight between destroyers and worshippers of 'Shakti'. He said the INDIA bloc announced to “finish, destroy Shakti”. 

"I accept their challenge. I will sacrifice my life for the security of mothers and sisters," PM Modi said.

Later, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused PM Modi of twisting his words and said he was speaking about the power of which Modi was wearing the mask. "Modi ji does not like my words, he always tries to change their meaning by twisting them in some way or the other because he knows that I have spoken a solemn truth," Gandhi posted in Hindi on X.

Meanwhile, Mahila Congress President Alka Lamba said the Congress had not released any manifesto yet, but PM Modi said that the Congress had talked about abolishing power in its manifesto. "BJP had given the slogan 'Save Daughter', but PM Modi remained busy in saving the criminals," she said.

(With inputs from agencies)