Says those who want to destroy ‘Shakti’ will get wiped out

Salem: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday made yet another blistering attack on the multi-party Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Shakti’ remarks, alleging the party and its allies including the DMK were out to ‘destroy’ it but asserted they will get destroyed.

Attacking Congress and its southern ally, the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, he said they were “two sides of the coin” and levelled allegations of corruption and dynasty politics against them.

Rahul Gandhi’s “fight against Shakti” remark had sparked a controversy on Monday and drew a strong retort from Modi who said every mother and daughter was a form of “Shakti” for him and that he will sacrifice his life for their security.

As Modi seized upon Gandhi’s remark made at the Opposition INDIA bloc rally in Mumbai on Sunday, the Congress leader clarified that he was not talking about any religious power but the ‘Shakti’ of unrighteousness, corruption and falsehood.

On Tuesday, Modi also attacked the INDI alliance, saying its constituents would never speak ill about any other faith, but would not lose a second in abusing the Hindu religion.

“The election campaign has started, but INDI alliance’s plan came out in their first rally in Mumbai. Their manifesto, ill intentions have come out. At Shivaji Park in Mumbai, Indi alliance openly declared they will destroy Shakti which is faith. What does Shakti mean in Hinduism – everybody in Tamil Nadu knows that,” he said addressing a BJP rally here.

In Tamil Nadu, Shakti means the divine manifestation in the form of woman deities – Kanchi Kamakshi Amman, Madurai Meenakshi Amman the “Shakti peet” and Samayapuram Mariamman, he said. “These are Shakti.”