Shah offers new definition of Congress-free India slogan

raipur — BJP chief Amit Shah on Monday asserted that the opposition has a key role in a democracy and said his party’s slogan of “Congress-free India” means freeing the country of that party’s “culture”. He also said his some of the remarks on Congress president Rahul Gandhi should not be taken as a personal attack as he had only replied to certain questions posed by the opposition party leader.

“‘Congressmukt Bharat’ means getting rid of the ‘Congress culture’. Democracy is not possible without the opposition. It is a different thing that the Congress has been shrinking in the country,” he said. “But it is the responsibility of Rahul Gandhi to keep the Congress alive, not mine,” Shah said, when asked if the BJP wanted to wipe out the opposition from the country.

He was addressing a press conference at Ambikapur town in Chhattisgarh’s Surguja district before

Congressmukt

Bharat means getting rid of the ‘Congress culture’. Democracy is not possible without the opposition. Amit Shah, BJP president

leaving for New Delhi after his two-day visit to the city.

To a query on constantly targeting Gandhi in his speeches, Shah said, “It should not be considered as a personnel attack. He (Rahul) put forth some questions to which I answered.” The BJP has done good work and therefore, it is getting support of the people. “If we continue doing good work, people will continue to support us,” he said.

He said Gandhi was asked to give an account of the four-generation rule of his family as it was in power for 55 years.

“Being the present party chief, Rahul Gandhi had to answer about the Congress legacy and I have to answer on the BJP’s legacy. It should happen in a democracy and there should be no objection over it,” the BJP president said.

To a question on the middle class apparently distancing itself from the Modi government, he said the Centre has been working while keeping in mind benefits of all sections of society and a propaganda was being spread that the middle class has turned away from the BJP. “The party won elections with the support of the middle class in 14 states,” he noted. —