Shah’s speech hints at Rawat vs Dhami in ’22 polls: Analysts
The Union minister mentioned Rawat’s name at least 13 times during his 20-minute address in Dehradun
DEHRADUN: Union minister Amit Shah launched the BJP’s election campaign for the 2022 state assembly election by launching a scathing attack on the Congress at a rally in Dehradun on Saturday. However, political analysts say, what stood out during his address was his targeting of former CM and Congress national general secretary Harish Rawat on several issues in an apparent hint towards chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami vs Rawat battle in 2022.
Shah, who came to the state capital to launch three initiatives of the state government, mentioned Rawat at least 13 times during his public address of about 20 minutes in presence of Dhami, party state president Madan Kaushik, party members of Parliament from the state, legislators, cabinet ministers and other senior BJP leaders.
Political analysts say the development “clearly suggests that the 2022 battle would be between Dhami and Rawat.”
“The BJP has already said it will fight the polls under Dhami. As far as the Congress is concerned, Rawat is the strongest leader in the state and was deemed as the party’s CM candidate. But now with Shah’s attack, it is almost confirmed that the 2022 polls will be Dhami vs Rawat,” said Jai Singh Rawat, political commentator.
Targeting Rawat of doing appeasement politics during his government prior to 2017, Shah alleged that the former had thought of declaring holiday on Friday for the Friday prayers of Muslims. “In one of my visits to Dehradun during Congress rule before 2017, my motorcade was stopped on the national highway. Upon enquiring from my staff, I was told that it was Friday. Hence, the national highway was blocked for the Friday prayers. The Congress government even thought of declaring a holiday on Friday,” Shah said on Saturday.
He also cited the development and restoration works at Kedarnath temple under the rule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and alleged that Congress “didn’t carry” those works during its rule after the 2013 tragedy. “It was because, they were afraid that they will lose their vote bank. But Rawat saab, we don’t fear anyone because Kedarnath and Badrinath temples are not just the pride of Uttarakhand but whole country,” said Shah.
During his address, Shah also attacked the former CM while challenging him for a debate at “a Dehradun’s square on the promises fulfilled by it during its rule and the ones fulfilled by us in our rule on the basis of manifesto”.
“I challenge Harish Rawat for a debate on that. I will send my president of Yuva Morcha (BJP’s youth wing) to a Dehradun’s square against you. Will list the promises fulfilled by us as per our poll manifesto in 2017 election and you list yours as per the manifesto of 2013 election before the Congress came into power.”
“Rawat ji always questions our young chief minister Dhami on development works. I would want to suggest him to please watch the sting against you. Even the illicit liquor scam surrounding Denise liquor brand during your government is also known to all,” said Shah while urging the public to give one more chance to the BJP under the leadership of Dhami to serve them.
Following his attack, Congress’ Rawat countered him on the issues he was attacked upon.
“Shah claimed that I had ordered a holiday on Friday for the Friday prayers in state which is completely false. I challenge him to probe the same using any agency,” said Rawat. “As far as the attack on Denise liquor is concerned, it is now available in the army canteens in Uttarakhand as well as Delhi. If Shah alleges that liquor was poison during our government, I dare him to mention any deaths in hooch tragedy... I would fail to do so but I can by mentioning all such deaths during the present BJP government in state.”
On Shah’s challenge for a debate on development works done by his government and that in BJP government, Rawat accepted it and said, “Whenever and wherever I am called for it, I will be present. I can assure that our development works will be heavier on the beam balance than theirs because they did nothing.”
Congress national spokesperson Gaurav Vallabh too launched an attack on Shah on Sunday by saying, “Shah’s targeting of Rawat proves that he has conceded defeat against the Congress well before the elections.”
“In his address of about 20 minutes, he had mentioned Rawat at least 13 times. It clearly shows that he knows who the strongest leader in state is at present. He also knows that it will be under Rawat’s leadership that Congress will win the 2022 elections. He has already conceded defeat against Congress.”
He also lashed out at him on the liquor issue by terming the BJP state government as “liquor lover.” “They are clearly liquor lovers because instead of providing education, health and other basic services at the doorstep of people of Uttarakhand, this government started doorstep home delivery service of liquor in Uttarakhand. Also, they permitted a liquor factory in the sacred land of Devprayag which is just highly condemnable,” he said.
BJP state vice president Devendra Bhasin said: “The Congress has long been rejected by the people of Uttarakhand because they only indulge in corruption and do nothing for development whenever they are in power.”