Shah slams Rahul over poor growth under Cong rule

Ambikapur ( Chhattisgarh), June 10: BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday sounded the bugle for the upcoming Assembly polls in Chhattisgarh, launching a blistering attack on Rahul Gandhi over “lack of development” during the “four- generation rule” of the Congress.

Addressing a rally in Ambikapur, Mr Shah hit out at Mr Gandhi for seeking an account of the work done by the BJP- led NDA government at the Centre in the past four years, but not speaking about the 55 years that the Congress ruled the country.

“Congress chief Rahul Gandhi was asking what has the Modi government done in four years. Rahul baba, why are you asking for our account of four years? We do not need to give you any account. We will give an account of every minute and every paisa to people when we go to them seeking votes,” he said.

“You are asking ‘ hisab’ from us but this country wants ‘ hisab’ of four generations of your family. Your family ruled the country for 55 years... People of this country want to know why development did not take place during the 55- year rule of four generations of your family,” Mr Shah said.

The rally was organised as part of the “vikas yatra” campaign launched by chief minister Raman Singh to highlight achievements of his

government in the past 15 years in Chhattisgarh, which goes to polls later this year.

At the rally, Mr Shah took a dig at Mr Gandhi’s foreign visits. “Raman Singh launched his “vikas yatra” during soaring mercury. However, when summer comes Rahul Gandhi goes on a vacation to Europe... They cannot serve people,” he said.

On May 18, Mr Gandhi had held a roadshow from Durg town to state capital Raipur, covering a distance of around 50 km.

Mr Shah said no party’s government has the courage to share a report card of its work with people ahead of elections but the Chhattisgarh chief minister has been doing that through his “vikas yatra”. Mr Shah also criticised the Congress for opposing the yatra.

The Congress has slammed the yatra, accusing the BJP of using public money to promote itself ahead of the polls. State Congress general secretary Bhupesh Baghel last month wrote to the chief election commissioner and Chhattisgarh chief secretary, seeking a ban on the campaign.

Exuding confidence that the BJP will retain power in Chhattisgarh for a straight fourth term, Mr Shah set a target of winning 65 of the total 90 seats in the upcoming polls.

“By witnessing this massive crowd of people, it is evident that the Raman Singh government will retain power for the fourth consecutive term in the state. However, this time just a victory will not be enough but the party has to register a huge win by bagging 65 out of 90 seats,” he said, adding the victory should be such that the

Congress gets “uprooted” from the state. The BJP won 49 seats in 2013 as against 39 of the Congress.

He said that the Chhattisgarh government has given a befitting reply to Naxals.

Before the rally, Mr Shah held a road show in Ambikapur as part of the “vikas yatra”. The road show was marked by beating of drums and performances by folk troupes.

Listing the achievements of the Modi government, Mr Shah said bank accounts of 30 crore people were opened during the past four years.