Amit Shah attacks Rahul Gandhi over Congress’s poor track record, eyes 65 seats in Chhattisgarh polls

BJP chief Amit Shah sounded the bugle for the year-end elections in Chhattisgarh and said the Raman Singh government would retain power in Chhattisgarh.

Updated on: Jun 10, 2018, 21:51:44 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah on Sunday attacked Congress president Rahul Gandhi for seeking an account of the work done by prime minister Narendra Modi in the last four years.

The BJP was not answerable to the Congress president but to the people of the country, Shah said while addressing a public rally in Ambikapur in Surguja district of Chhattisgarh, which goes to polls by the year-end.

“I was listening to the Congress president’s speech and he was seeking an account from Modi ji about the work done in last four years. I want to tell Rahul Baba that we are not answerable to him. When we will go to public for votes we will give every answer and account to the people of this country, who have chosen us,” Shah said.

“Your family governed the country for four generations and 55 years. Why has there not been any development?” he asked, adding that Gandhi should look within before seeking an account of the developmental works from the BJP.

The BJP president said the election season would kick in soon and the Congress would use the opportunity to spread “lies” about the Narendra Modi government.

“In the coming days, the Congress will spread different types of lies to mislead people. Sometimes they will say the SC/ST Act is being abolished, on other occasions they will say the reservation (system) was being scrapped,” he said.

“I want to clearly say that the SC/ST Act and reservation will remain in force till the BJP government is in power,” he added.

Shah said during the Congress rule, cross-border firing was happening every other day, but no befitting reply was given. However, this changed after the Modi government assumed office in 2014, Shah said, referring to the September 2016 surgical strikes.

Praising chief minister Raman Singh’s “excellent work” for the welfare of Chhattisgarh, Shah said the BJP would win 65 of the 90 seats in the state, where the saffron outfit was in power for nearly 15 years.

Amid talks of anti-incumbency in poll-bound Chhattisgarh, Raman Singh is trying hard for a fourth term. In March, he launched “Lok Suraj” or people’s governance, which he claimed is the “biggest social audit system” in India, and the ongoing ‘Vikas Yatra’ .

Reacting to Shah’s comments on Rahul Gandhi, Satyanarayan Sharma, seniormost leader of Chhattisgarh Congress said, “In parliamentary system, the goverment is accountable to the opposition. Amit Shah made a mockery of the Constitution and parliamentary system by giving such statement... As far as Rahul Gandhi’s personal visit to any country is concerned, pointing to anyone’s personal life shows the mentality of the BJP.“

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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