NEW DELHI: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the INDIA bloc over
Rahul Gandhi's 'Shakti' remark saying the opposition displayed its "ill-intention" by declaring to destroy it. Targeting the opposition,
PM Modi said "In Hinduism, 'Shakti means 'Matru Shakti', 'Naari Shakti' but INDIA bloc, of which the Congress and the
DMK are key constituents, says they will destroy it."
In a veiled attack, the Prime Minister said that the "INDIA bloc repeatedly and deliberately insulted the Hindu faith and every statement made by them against it is well thought out." He was addressing a public event in Tamil Nadu's Salem.
PM Modi said that 'Shakti' refers to the divine and manifests in the form of various deities in the state like Mariamman, Madurai Meenakshiamman and Kanchi Kamakshiamma.
During his address, he also mentioned national poet Subramania Bharathi, who worshipped mother India as 'Shakti'. "Tamil Nadu will punish those who talk of destroying Shakti. I am a shakti upasak (worshipper)," he added.
"DMK and Congress of INDIA bloc don't target any other faith, but doesn't waste a second in abusing Hinduism," PM Modi asserted.
Highlighting Rahul Gandhi's remark during his Mumbai meeting, PM Modi said, "INDIA bloc displayed their ill-intentions by announcing to destroy 'Shakti'."
Attacking DMK, PM Modi said, "You all are witness to the kind of behaviour INDIA bloc does with women. When former state CM J. Jayalalithaa was alive you all know how DMK leaders behaved with her. This is DMK's real face."
He further said that DMK and Congress are two sides of the same coin. DMK and Congress mean- Big corruption and one family rule. "When the country got rid of Congress, the country reached 5G technology. But in Tamil Nadu DMK is running its own 5G- one family's fifth generation to have control over Tamil Nadu," he said.
During his speech, PM Modi got emotional after remembering former state BJP president, the late KN Lakshmanan and his contribution towards the expansion of the party in the state.
He further asserted that, "Tamil Nadu has decided that every single vote on April 19 will be given to BJP-NDA."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's recent comment on "fighting against Shakti" has stirred controversy. During his speech at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, Rahul Gandhi 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."
"In Hindu religion, there is a word 'Shakti'. We are fighting against a Shakti. Now the question arises: What is that Shakti? As someone here said, the King's soul is in EVM. It is correct. The King's soul is in EVM. It is in every institution of Hindustan, in ED, in CBI, in the Income Tax department," he added.
Rahul Gandhi's remark drew a strong retort from PM Modi and other BJP leaders. PM Modi had asserted that every mother and daughter is a "Shakti" for him and that he will sacrifice his life for their security. During his rallies in Telangana and Karnataka, PM Modi made a strong remark saying that the upcoming general elections will be a fight between destroyers and worshippers of 'Shakti'.