Fri Sep 20 10:53:19 UTC 2024: ## PM Modi Accuses Congress of “Hatred” Towards Ganesh Chaturthi, Reigniting Festival Controversy

**Wardha, Maharashtra:** Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the Congress party of harboring “animosity” towards Ganesh Chaturthi, further fueling the controversy surrounding the festival. Addressing a gathering in Wardha, he asserted that any party with genuine respect for India’s faith and culture would never oppose the Ganpati Puja.

“A party that has even a shred of respect for our faith and culture can never oppose Ganpati Puja. But today’s Congress harbours hatred even for Ganpati Puja,” Modi declared. He went on to say that the Congress party of today is a far cry from the one led by Mahatma Gandhi, claiming the “soul of patriotism has left it and hatred has taken its place.”

Modi further accused the Congress of spreading an “anti-India agenda” on foreign soil, a thinly veiled reference to Rahul Gandhi’s recent trip to the US. He also labelled the party as being run by the “tukde-tukde gang” and “urban Naxals,” claiming it to be the most corrupt political force in the country.

The Prime Minister’s comments come amidst a recent controversy sparked by his visit to the residence of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud for a Ganesh Puja on September 11. While the BJP and its supporters dismissed the criticism as unwarranted, opposition parties and some lawyers questioned the propriety of such a meeting, raising concerns about judicial transparency.

Modi’s fiery remarks are likely to further escalate tensions surrounding the Ganesh Chaturthi festival and deepen the political divide in India.

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