Salem (Tamil Nadu)/New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday made yet another blistering attack on the multi-party INDIA bloc over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Shakti' remarks, alleging the grand old 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, Prime Minister Narendra 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' 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."
Further, in the Hindu faith, Shakti means, "matru shakti, naari shakti," he said, alluding to woman power. "The Indi alliance of Congress and DMK say they will destroy this," he alleged.
Further, the INDIA bloc "people repeatedly deliberately insult Hindu faith. Every statement made by them against it is well thought out." "The INDIA alliance doesn't target any other faith, doesn't speak a word against others, but won't waste a second in abusing Hinduism. How can this happen. They had even opposed the installing of the sacred Sengol in the Parliament. Sengol is connected with the Maths here, that is why they deliberately insult that," Modi charged.
He said "our epics are proof that those who want to end Shakti get destroyed. My Tamil Nadu on April 19 will do it first," he said, referring to the poll date in the state when elections will be held to 39 Lok Sabha seats.
Invoking national poet Subramania Bharathi, he said he had worshipped Mother India "in Shakti swaroop" (form of Shakti). He also worshipped the country's 'nari shakti,' Modi said.
Modi described himself as a similar 'shakthi upasak' (worshipper). "Tamil Nadu will punish those who talk of destroying Shakti. This is the guarantee of crores of people of Tamil Nadu," he said.
He also highlighted various pro-women initiatives of the NDA government, including the Ujjwala scheme and said "at the centre of these schemes is naari shakti."
Taking on DMK, he said, it was well-known how the party behaved with the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa when she was alive. "This is DMK's real face. They even oppose the women's reservation bill. Because of this, crimes against women in Tamil Nadu is rising. Vote against this anti-woman attitude of the DMK on April 19," Modi said.
Slamming DMK and its ally Congress, he said they were two sides of the coin, known for "big corruption, one family rule." With Congress away from power at the Centre, the country has reached 5G level of communication, he said.
However, the definition of 5G for the DMK was "the control of the fifth generation of the same family in Tamil Nadu." "By doing 2G scam, they (DMK) brought disrepute to India and Tamil Nadu....Centre is sending lakhs of crores of rupees for Tamil Nadu's development but the government here is looting that," he alleged.
He also alleged the "dynastic parties" did not allow late Congress stalwart, GK Moopanar to reach greater heights even though he had the potential to become Prime Minister.
Recalling former chief minister, the late K Kamaraj, Modi said, his honesty and revolutionary schemes like mid-day meals "have been big inspiration to me."
The BJP's support in Tamil Nadu is growing and the ruling DMK is losing sleep over that, he said.
During his address, Modi turned emotional and paused his speech shortly here while recalling a slain BJP functionary from this district, who was killed 10 years ago. He choked while talking about 'Auditor' V Ramesh, who was hacked to death in 2013.
The PM paused his speech for sometime and when he resumed, he recalled Ramesh's work for the party. "I can't forget Auditor Ramesh. Unfortunately today Ramesh is not among us. Ramesh worked hard for the party, day and night and he was a good orator. But he was killed. Today I pay my tributes to him," Modi said.
The PM also heaped praises on Tamil language. Earlier, 11 Shakti Ammas gave a special welcome to the PM. He arrived at the venue in an open-roof vehicle.
Alliance party leaders-- expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam, PMK founder S Ramadoss, with whom the BJP sealed the seat-sharing deal for the April 19 polls earlier today, and AMMK's TTV Dhinakaran were among those present.
Meanwhile in New Delhi, senior BJP leader Ravishankar Prasad said that Rahul Gandhi has insulted Hindu culture. "The Congress spokespersons were trying to justify his remarks. Under Rahul Gandhi's leadership, the Congress has become a party which takes ahead the views of Naxals," added Ravishankar Prasad, a former Union Minister.
"Can Rahul Gandhi use such insulting words for any other religion, does he have any courage and will he be allowed," Prasad asked. "The country will not tolerate this insult. There is no difference between Rahul Gandhi, (Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK) Stalin, his son (Udhayanidhi Stalin) and (DMK leader) A Raja. We will make this a big issue in the Lok Sabha polls and the country will give a befitting reply," Prasad added.
"Denigrating and castigating Hindu gods, Hindu practises, Hindu ideals, have become the biggest theme of the political campaign of the Congress party and this we are saying with full responsibility," he added.
