Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not waste a day in taking on the Congress over a remark by its Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi that may have otherwise just slipped by. On Sunday, as the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra drew to a close in Maharashtra, Rahul raised the issue of the Opposition’s concerns around EVMs. However, in the excitement of the conclusion of the Yatra which turned into a show of strength by the INDIA bloc, Rahul’s remark came as an opportunity for Modi – served on a platter.

“There is a word ‘Shakti’ in Hinduism. We are fighting against a shakti (power) too. The question is, what is that shakti and what does it mean for us?” Rahul said and alleged that all institutions in the country, from EVMs to the Enforcement Directorate, were under the might of the Modi government.

Wasting no time, Modi picked on the remark in successive rallies on Monday and claimed that Rahul had denigrated the revered figure of ‘Shakti’ in Hinduism. “Don’t we worship Shakti in India? Haven’t we dedicated our Chandrayaan to Shiv Shakti (the name given to the site of the landing)? But these people are talking about a life without Shakti,” PM Modi said.

Delving deeper into it, Modi claimed that the BJP saw ‘Shakti’ as a symbol of the power of women. “Mere saamne Shakti-swaroopa beti, mahilayen, behnen, Shakti ka roop dhaaran karke, mujhe aashirwad dene aayi hain (Daughters, women, sisters, the symbol of Shakti, are here before me, having taken the form of Shakti to bless me)… For me every mother, sister, daughter is the symbol of Shakti. Mein Bharat maan ka poojari hoon (I am a devotee of Bharat Mata)… I will sacrifice my life for the security of mothers and sisters,” he said addressing a rally in Jagtial, Telangana.

Modi further said that people cannot ignore Rahul’s remark as it was made at the first rally of the INDIA bloc after the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections and at the historic Shivaji Stadium. He then went on to share an anecdote about how Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji respected women “On June 4, it will be clear who has the blessing of Shakti.”

Damage Control by Congress

As the controversy grew over the Congress leader’s remarks, Rahul Gandhi took to his X account to claim that Modi had twisted his words. “The ‘shakti’ that I mentioned, Modiji is the mask of that power and we are fighting against it. That power has captured India’s voice, India’s institutions, the CBI, I-T, ED, Election Commission, the media, Indian industry and the entire Constitutional structure of India in its clutches,” he said.

“I recognise that power and so does Narendra Modiji. It is not any kind of religious power, it is the power of unrighteousness, corruption and falsehood. That’s why whenever I raise my voice against it, Modiji and his machine of lies get upset and enraged,” Rahul added.

Other Congress leaders also joined in and likened the BJP to “Asuri Shakti” (demonic power) and pointed to the incidents of crime against women in Hathras, Kathua, Unnao and women being paraded naked in Manipur as well as the wrestlers’ protest under Modi’s 10-year rule. “This country has always got its strength from ‘Daivik Shakti’ and the youths, women and farmers are standing with Rahul Gandhi. However, the BJP is hoping to use Rahul’s remark to bolster its claims that the INDIA bloc has “hatred against Hinduism and Hindu beliefs,” the party said.

Blast From the Past

The recent row over Rahul’s comments isn’t the first instance when the Congress has found itself on the backfoot over sly remarks against Modi. Rahul’s aggressive ‘Chowkidaar Chor Hai’ campaign against the PM over the Rafale deal backfired ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as BJP leaders added “Main Bhi Chowkidaar” to their social media handles.

Earlier this year, RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav said that Modi has no “parivar” (family). The BJP and Modi were quick to latch on as seen in the massive”Modi ka Parivar” campaign. In a repeat of the 2019 strategy, BJP leaders attached the ‘Modi Ka Parivar’ suffix to their social media handles. Modi claimed that the entire country is his family.

Earlier too, remarks such as ‘Chaiwaala’ by Congress’ Mani Shankar Aiyar and ‘Maut Ka Saudagar’ by Sonia Gandhi ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and the Gujarat elections in 2007, respectively, only bolstered the BJP’s standing electorally.

Lok Sabha elections this year are scheduled to be held in seven phases between April 19 and June 1. The results will be declared on June 4 for all polls, except in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.