Congress's 'Bhakti For Shakti' Grows Amid Row Over Rahul's Comment, PM Modi's Takedown

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday extended wishes on the occasion of 'Chaitra Navratri.'

After Rahul Gandhi's ' Fight agains Shakti' comment during a rally in Mumbai triggered a political row, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday took to his social media account on X to extend wishes on the occasion of 'Chaitra Navratri.' Kharge, while wishing the people stated: " Heartiest best wishes to everyone on the auspicious occassion of 'Chaitra Navratri,' the great festival of worship of Adishakti, Maa Durga."

"I hope that this great festival will bring happiness, peace, prosperity and well-being in the lives of all of you and the blessings of Goddess Mother will remain on everyone," the post read.

What was the Shakti row?

Addressing a public gathering at Mumbai's Shivaji Park in March, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raised concerns about the operation of EVMs. While talking about the same, he used the Hindi word 'Shakti' to emphasise the opposition's struggle against the power of the state.

“There is a word 'Shakti' (might) in Hinduism. We are fighting against a Shakti (might of the state). The question is, what is that Shakti and what does it entail for us? The soul and integrity of EVMs have been traded to the King (Modi). This is a fact. Not just EVMs but every autonomous institution of the country, be it the ED, CBI or Income Tax department, have traded their spines to the Centre,” the Congress leader stated on the last day of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. 

Following these remarks, Prime Minister slammed Rahul Gandhi for his statement about "fighting against Shakti."

PM Modi stated: "Yesterday an announcement to destroy Shakti was made from Shivaji Park (in Mumbai). How much it must have hurt the soul of Balasaheb Thackeray... Nari Shakti ka yahi aashirvad mera sabse bada kawach hai.The people of the INDI alliance want to destroy this Shakti. They hate the increasing shakti of Maa Bharti...'Vaar' on Shakti means 'vaar' on women, daughters, Maa Bharti."

Subsequently, Rahul Gandhi on Monday reacted to the prime minister's reaction saying, “Modi ji does not like my words. He tries to twist my statements and change the meaning, because he knows that I have spoken a deep truth.”  He also defended himself saying that his remark was not religious but but the power of unrighteousness, corruption, and untruth.