Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched another attack on the Opposition INDIA bloc over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's "Shakti" remark, saying those who want to destroy "Shakti" will get destroyed.

Addressing a rally in Tamil Nadu's Salem, PM Modi stated that in Tamil Nadu, 'Shakti' represents the divine presence embodied in woman deities such as Kanchi Kamakshi Amman, Madurai Meenakshi Amman the "Shakti peetha" and Samayapuram Mariamman.

On March 17, while arguing against the use of EVMs, Rahul Gandhi said, ""There is a word 'Shakti' in Hinduism. We are fighting against a Shakti. The question is, what is that Shakti? The soul of the King is in the EVM. This is true. The soul of the King is in the EVM and in every institution of the country, in ED, CBI, and the Income Tax department."

Rahul Gandhi's remark sparked a controversy and drew a strong retort from PM Modi, who said every mother and daughter was a form of "Shakti" for him.

At the Salem rally on Tuesday, PM Modi further accused the Congress and its INDIA bloc ally DMK of intending to destroy this essence.

"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," PM Modi asserted.

"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 it," PM Modi continued his attack.

The Prime Minister also drew upon epics and Tamil poet Subramania Bharathi's works to elaborate on the connection of 'Shakti' to Tamil beliefs, highlighting Bharathi's worship of Mother India in the form of 'Shakti' and his reverence for the country's 'nari shakti' (women power), likening himself to a similar worshipper of 'Shakti'.

Source: India Today