NEW DELHI: The election war of words between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leader of the main opposition Congress, Rahul Gandhi, has begun. The fresh battle is over the word 'Shakti', which was used by Rahul Gandhi to criticize Narendra Modi in his speech at the concluding rally of Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra in Mumbai on Sunday.

During the rally in Mumbai, Rahul said that the term 'Shakti' has great significance in Hinduism.

"Our fight is against a Shakti (power). What is that Shakti? The fight against Modi is not personal. Modi is a mask of power. The soul of this king resides in the electronic voting machine," Rahul said.

Rahul also alleged that all the autonomous bodies like ED, CBI and Income Tax Department have given their spine to the central government.

I'm a devotee of Mother India, says Modi

Responding to Rahul Gandhi's statement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a rally at Telangana that the 'INDIA' Front has issued a manifesto aimed at destroying 'Shakti'. He also said that he was ready to take up that challenge and sacrifice his life for the country.

"The fight is between those who worship 'Shakti' and those who are trying to destroy it. For me, all mothers and daughters are the form of 'Shakti'. I see them as Shakti and worship them. I am a devotee of Mother India. The place where Chandrayaan landed has been named 'Shiva Shakti'. Can anyone talk about destroying 'Shakti'?'' Modi asked.

Modi always trying to twist my words: Rahul Gandhi
Hitting back at Modi, Rahul Gandhi alleged that Modi always tries to change the meaning of his words by twisting them.

"Modi knows that I spoke the deepest truth. The 'Shakti' I referred to is not religious, but the power of injustice and corruption behind Modi's mask. It is that power that has captured CBI, IT, ED, Election Commission, Media and Indian Industry. That is why Modiji and his machine of lies get upset when I raise my voice," he said.