Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his 'shakti' remark asking how can anyone talk of destroying shakti. Modi's remark came after Rahul said on Sunday that his party along with other oppostition parties are fighting against a Shakti (power).
“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 in the EVM and every institution of the country, in ED, CBI and Income Tax department," Rahul said during the concluding ceremony of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
Hitting back at the Congress leader, Modi said, "The INDI alliance in their manifesto said that their fight is against 'Shakti'. For me, every mother, daughter, and sister is a form of 'Shakti'."
"I worship them in the form of 'Shakti'. I am the worshiper of Bharat Mata...Their manifesto is to finish 'Shakti', and I accept the challenge...' Main jaan ki baazi laga dunga'...," he added while addressing a public rally in Telangana's Jagtial, part of the Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency.
"How can anyone on this Earth talk of destroying Shakti....everyone worships Shakti...we dedicated Chandrayaan's success to Shiv Shakti," he said.
Further attacking the Congress, Modi said he accepted the challenge saying the contest will be between between those "wanting to destroy shakti and those worshiping it".
"As the voting day nears there is a BJP wave in Telangana while Congress and BRS will get cleaned up," he remarked.
The Monday meeting is expected to have an impact on the neighbouring Karimnagar LS constituency as well. Currently, both Karimnagar and Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency is held by the saffron camp. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the party won four of the total 17 Lok Sabha seats and is eyeing to improve the tally from the state in the upcoming polls in a bid by the party to make inroads in the south.
Last week, Modi held a roadshow in the Malkajgiri Lok Sabha seat in Hyderabad and addressed a public meeting at Nagarkurnool.
Later in the day, he will hold a public rally in Karnataka's Shimoga and a road show in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore.