In India, Modi’s claim of ‘God bestowing him’ with ‘energy’ sparks ridicule from rivals, memes

One of his statements that has raised eyebrows came during a recent interview with India’s News18 channel after he was asked about the source of his boundless energy.

“When my mother was alive, I used to think that maybe I was born biologically. After my mother passed away … I am convinced… that God has bestowed me with energy that does not come from a biological body,” Modi replied.

His statement drew ridicule from opposition leaders and sparked memes depicting him as a God.

“To all the people of India, Narendra Modi is saying that brothers, you are all biological beings, but I am not. God has sent me from the heavens on a mission,” opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi told a rally on May 23.

“Now if you meet someone on the street who tells you the same thing, what will you tell him? Brother, please forgive me, but let me do my work,” he said.

It was not the only incident that Modi or his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party had made controversial comments about spiritual matters. Party spokesman Sambit Patra said Lord Jagannath, a principal deity revered by Hindus, was Modi’s devotee, forcing the BJP leader to later apologise for his subordinate’s slip of the tongue.

Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, author of the book Narendra Modi: The Man, The Times, said the incidents were in tandem with Modi’s “cult status” among his die-hard supporters including in the BJP, which he had encouraged.

“He has been trying to present this connection with divinity to establish the extraordinariness of Modi,” said Mukhopadhyay. While Modi had spoken about God choosing him for his political mission, the frequency of such comments by him has increased recently, according to Mukhopadhyay.

Modi’s spiritual focus was underlined by his attendance in January