Congress angry because I participated in Ganesh Puja: PM Modi

Addressing a rally in Bhubaneswar, Modi said that the power-hungry had problems with Ganesh Puja since the time of British rule.

“Banto aur raj karo ki neeti par chalne wale Angreziyon ki nazro mein us samay bhi Ganesh Utsav khatakta tha. Aaj bhi, samaj ko bantne aur todne mein lage satta ke bhukhe logon ko Ganesh Puja se parishani ho rahi hai (During the time of British rule, when they were using the divide and rule policy, Ganesh Utsav used to rattle them. Today, too, the power-hungry people looking to divide and break society are having problems with Ganesh Puja).”

Targeting the Congress, he said, “You would have seen how the Congress and its ecosystem were angry because I participated in Ganesh Puja.”

In an apparent reference to a viral photo that showed a Ganesh idol in a police van in Congress-ruled Karnataka, the PM said: “Karnataka mein, jahan inki sarkar hai, wahan toh inn logon ne aur bhi bada aparadh kiya. In logon ne Bhagwan Ganesh ki pratima ko hi salakhon ke piche dal diya. Pura desh un tasveeron se vichlit ho gaya (In Karnataka, where they (Congress) are in power, they have committed an even bigger crime – they put the idol of Lord Ganesh behind bars.”

He said Ganesh Utsav played a crucial role in the country’s freedom struggle, and that during British rule, “Lokmanya Tilak had awakened the soul of India by organising universal Ganesh Utsav.”

“Ganesh Utsav has become a symbol of unity and of rising above discrimination and casteism. All of society is united during Ganesh Utsav celebrations, without any discrimination,” said Modi.

Responding to the PM’s remarks, Congress said, “The difference between true bhakti and misuse of religion for politics is not hidden from anyone”. Congress general secretary in charge of organisation, K C Venugopal, linked the PM’s visit to the CJI’s house for Ganesh Puja with the Maharashtra Assembly elections that are set to take place later this year.

Criticising the visit, Venugopal said in a post on X: “Such proximity between the chiefs of the executive and the judiciary raise doubts about the PM’s intentions.”

“Mr Prime Minister, stop misusing Lord Ganesha to deflect from the genuine questions raised about your impropriety,” the Congress leader said.

In Bhubaneswar, PM Modi launched the Subhadra Yojana, the promise of which was one of the main poll planks that helped the BJP win the Assembly election in Odisha earlier this year. Kicking off the scheme, the PM initiated transfer of financial assistance of Rs 5,000 each to the accounts of over 25 lakh women.

Through the scheme, the BJP hopes to cover over 1 crore women aged between 21 and 60, who will be provided yearly financial assistance of Rs 10,000 in two instalments for five years. The government has earmarked Rs 10,000 crore for the purpose.

“Advancement of women and their empowerment will be the key to Odisha’s development. I bow down to all the mothers, sisters and daughters in the form of Goddess Subhadra,” said the Prime Minister.

Underlining the long coastline of Odisha, laden with mineral and natural wealth, Modi said these resources should be utilised to strengthen Odisha. “In the next five years, we have to take road and rail connectivity of Odisha to new heights,” he said.

The PM also released the first instalment of assistance to nearly 10 lakh beneficiaries in 14 states under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin housing scheme. He also visited the home of a PMAY beneficiary in Bhubaneswar.

– With inputs from ENS, New Delhi