Rahul can’t see development through Italian glasses: Shah
GAURAV YATRA BJP president launches second link of Gujarat rally, accuses Congress of ignoring the state for three generations
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.
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 Prime Minister 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 motorized 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 chief also indicated that assembly elections due in December are likely to be held in the first week of that month.
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.
While the detained youth were released by the police in the early hours of Monday, the community posted pictures on social media indicating that the BJP’s yatra has generated a poor response from the people.
A week before beginning the yatra, the BJP government, in a bid to reach out to the Patidars, had announced the formation of the non-reserved category educational and economical development commission and board.
But Hardik Patel, who has become the face of the agitation demanding reservation, has vowed to continue the stir until the quota demand is not met.
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