Hindustan Times (Delhi)

Rahul can’t see developmen­t through Italian glasses: Shah

- HT Correspond­ent letters@hindustant­imes.com

GAURAV YATRA BJP chief says end of Cong rule in Gujarat ended ‘gundaraaj’ in the 1990s

AHMEDABAD: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah Monday claimed that Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s vision to see Gujarat’s Vikas (developmen­t) is being blocked by his Italian eye wear.

“Rahul Gandhi is unable to see developmen­t in Gujarat because he is wearing Italian glasses’’, said Shah while flagging of the second link of the ‘Gujarat Gaurav Yatra’ led by party state president Jitu Vaghani from Porbandar in Saurashtra. The BJP had broadcast Shah’s speech on Facebook. In poll-bound Gujarat, Shah had flagged off the first link led by deputy chief minister Nitin Patel from Karamsad in central Gujarat on Sunday.

Travelling through various parts of the states to spread the word about the state government’s achievemen­ts, both links will culminate on October 16 in the presence of PM Narendra Modi. BJP also retorted against the “Vikas has gone crazy” jibe from the opposition with a new phrase — “I am Vikas, I am Gujarat”.while two motorised raths have been prepared to facilitate travel for Vaghani and Patel, several saffron painted SUVS form the entourage in the yatra.

Hailing PM Modi as Gujarat’s pride, Shah, on Sunday, alleged that the Congress has ignored the state for three generation­s. “First Sardar Patel, then Morarji Desai(late PM) and then Modi, for three generation­s the Congress has ignored the state and caused injustice’’, said Shah.

Shah also claimed, “The end of Congress in Gujarat in the midninetie­s spelt the end of Gundaraaj (rule of goons). BJP finished Ijju Sheikh, Latif, Mammu Miyan Panju Miyan for a peaceful Gujarat’’.

The BJP has begun the yatra after the Congress vice-president last week completed the first phase of his state-wide yatra when he toured the Saurashtra region for three days. Gandhi is likely to start the second phase from central Gujarat next week.

The BJP, however, had to face the ire of Patidars, who are up against the government over the OBC quota issue, during the yatra, especially in Patidar stronghold­s.

Several youth were detained on Sunday from the rally’s kickoff venue in Karamsad, birthplace of Sardar Patel, when they tried to disrupt Shah’s speech by shouting slogans like “Jai Sardar, Jai Patidar”. The slogan has become the trademark of their agitation which began in 2015.

 ?? PTI FILE ?? Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah flags off the first link of the ‘Gujarat Gaurav Yatra’ in Gujarat on Sunday.
PTI FILE Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah flags off the first link of the ‘Gujarat Gaurav Yatra’ in Gujarat on Sunday.

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