The BJP on Wednesday filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his recent ‘Shakti’ remark, saying that it has deeply hurt the sentiments of the Hindus.

The BJP submitted a memorandum to the poll panel in this regard.

“It is posited that in Hinduism, Goddess Durga is one of the most revered deities, and is also prayed by the name ‘Shakti.’ This obnoxious statement against Hinduism and Hindu Gods has deeply hurt the sentiments of the Hindu as it was rendered with malicious intention of insulting the religious values associated with ‘Shakti’ and creates enmity among the religions so that the INC in general and Rahul Gandhi particular can appease some religious community,” the memorandum said.

“Further, the pertinacious deed of the Congress and Rahul Gandhi is jeopardising the peaceful environment of this nation which may pose a serious challenge to the fair and free election,” it said.

“As the term ‘Shakti’ is traditionally associated with the female deity and women folk in India, thus along with hurting the religious sentiments, it also has an underlying misogynistic tone,” the memorandum said.

Rahul Gandhi further in his speech raised false and mischievous allegations with respect to the authenticity of the electronic voting machines (EVMs), the BJP said in its memorandum.

The BJP requested the poll panel to take “stringent action” against the Congress leader for his remarks.

In the memorandum to the poll panel, the BJP said, “Rahul Gandhi may be instructed to offer an unconditional public apology and retraction for his utterances at Shivaji Park event in Mumbai.”

“Take stringent action and direct lodging of an FIR and prosecute Rahul Gandhi,” it said.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi triggered a row by raising concerns about the operation of EVMs, to emphasise the Opposition’s struggle against the might of the state.

After his ‘Shakti’ remark stirred controversy, the BJP leaders criticised him for his statement, whereas the Congress rallied behind him and came in support of him.

Gandhi, in his comments made on Sunday in Maharashtra, said: “There is a word ‘Shakti’ (might) in Hinduism. We are fighting against a Shakti (might of the state). The question is, what is that Shakti and what does it entail for us? The soul and integrity of EVMs have been traded to the King (Modi). This is a fact. Not just EVMs but every autonomous institution of the country, be it the ED, CBI or Income Tax department, have traded their spines to the Centre.”

Meanwhile, clarifying his remark, Rahul Gandhi said that he was speaking about the power whose mask is none other than the Prime Minister.

“Modi ji does not like my words, he always tries to change their meaning by twisting them in some way or the other because he knows that I have spoken a deep truth. The power that I mentioned, the power that we are fighting, its mask is none other than Modi ji,” the Congress leader posted on X.