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Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while speaking to Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi at News18’s ‘Sabse Bada Dangal’ on Wednesday, said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will “pay the price” for his recent remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that Gandhi had insulted Chhath Maiya and her devotees. Speaking to News18, Shah said, “Rahul Gandhi has not insulted PM Modi, but he has insulted Chhathi Maiya and her devotees. He will suffer the adverse consequences of this in the Bihar elections.” Reacting to Gandhi’s comment that Prime Minister Modi would “dance on stage” for votes, Shah said, “Rahul Gandhi will have to pay the price for this in the elections. Rahul spoke about PM Modi in a derogatory manner and insulted his mother, but every time he has done this, the lotus has bloomed from the mud of lowered standards.” Also Read: ‘No PM-CM Vacancy For Sonia Gandhi, Lalu Prasad’s Sons’: Amit Shah’s Endorsement For Nitish Kumar Asserting that the people of Bihar revere Chhath Maiya as a symbol of devotion and culture, the Home Minister said he was confident voters would give a strong response. “I am fully confident that the voters of Bihar will not forget the insult to Chhath Maiya and Modi ji,” Shah said. The remarks from Amit Shah came after Gandhi, addressing a public rally, said, “You (Bihar voters) are also able to understand political intricacies in a matter of seconds. I would urge you not to be swayed by the drama of Narendra Modi. He would be ready to dance on the stage if he sensed that it would fetch you votes.” The comments have sparked a sharp political exchange ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, with the BJP accusing the Congress leader of demeaning voters while the Opposition continues to target the ruling party over unemployment and governance issues in the state. BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari accused Rahul Gandhi of “mocking voters and Indian democracy,” saying the Congress leader “speaks like a local goon” and has “openly insulted every poor person of India and Bihar who voted for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.” Also Read: ‘Speaking Like A Local Goon’: BJP Targets Rahul Gandhi Over ‘Dance’ Dig At PM Modi In Bihar BJP’s Amit Malviya also condemned Gandhi, alleging that he had begun his Bihar campaign by “insulting the great festival of folk faith, Chhathi Maiya.” Malviya said that through “old pictures,” the Chhath Mahaparva had previously been belittled, and now Gandhi had “deliberately struck at the local festivals, the devotion of crores of people, and the faith of those observing Chhath vows.” He described the remarks as “reprehensible.”
