'Those with slave mentality mock India's religious beliefs with foreign backing': Modi attacks Oppn over Kumbh remarks

New Delhi: Attacking the Opposition parties including Congress and TMC for their critical remarks on Maha Kumbh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that those with "slave mentality" keep attacking the country's religious and cultural traditions with the backing of foreign powers.

Terming ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj as the "Maha Kumbh of Unity," the PM said that "These days we see that there is a group of leaders who mock and ridicule our religion. They are bent upon breaking the unit and are engaged in dividing people.”

"Many times, foreign powers too are seen trying to weaken the country and religion by supporting these people," Modi said, adding that these people have an agenda to break the society and unity of the country.

He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for Shree Bageshwar Medical Sciences And Research Institute, which will include a cancer hospital, at Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh.

Modi's remarks come amid a row over West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee dubbing Maha Kumbh as 'Mrityu Kumbh' citing mismanagement and incidents of stampede. She had also accused the authorities of suppressing the death toll. Even Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge Kharge said dip in Ganga won’t remove poverty in this country.

Modi said the haters of the Hindu faith have been living in different disguises for centuries.

"These people with a slave mentality attack our beliefs, temples, saints, culture and traditions. These people abuse our festivals, traditions, and beliefs," he said.

"They have the audacity of throwing slush at our religion and culture which is intrinsically progressive," he added.

Underling the religious significance of Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, the PM praised 'safai karmis' (sanitation workers) and police personnel for doing a great job in making the event successful.

He said for ages, Hindu mutts, dhaams and temples have been serving as the centres of worship and belief and also for science and research.