Congress leader Rahul Gandhi issued a clarification on Monday in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi”s criticism of his ‘Shakti’ remark, which has sparked significant controversy ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
In a statement posted on the social platform X, Gandhi said, “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”.
During an event at Mumbai”s Shivaji Park on Sunday, Gandhi had referenced ‘Shakti’ to raise concerns about electronic voting machines (EVMs). “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,” he had said on the last day of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
On Monday, Rahul Gandhi stood by his statement, saying, The ‘Shakti’ I mentioned against whom we are fighting, its mask is none other than Modiji. It is a power that has captured India”s voice, institutions, CBI, I-T department, ED, Election Commission, media, industries and constitutional structure.”
Highlighting the disparity in PM Modi”s priorities, the Wayanad MP said, “For this power, Narendra Modi waives off loans worth thousands of crore rupees while a farmer is forced to commit suicide on not being able to pay loans worth few thousand rupees.”
Earlier in the day, PM Modi had criticised the INDIA alliance in response to Gandhi”s comments. “They declared that their fight is against Shakti… for me, every daughter, mother, and sister is a personification of Shakti. To those who are raising their voices against Shakti, I accept your challenge. I am willing to sacrifice my life for Shakti,” he said.
A worshipper of ‘Shakti’, the feminine form of God just as the crores of Hindus, he said it was ‘Shakti’ which gave him the energy when he entered the public life.
Highlighting the significance of women in society, PM Modi reiterated that every woman in the country embodies the essence of ‘Shakti,’ the divine feminine energy. He affirmed that his government consistently prioritises ‘Nari Shakti’ or women empowerment.
“When Chandrayaan-3 reached where no one had ever reached before (lunar south pole), we gave that place the name ‘Shiv-Shakti Point’,” the PM said.
