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Shah hits out at Congress over violence during Rath Yatra under its rule
Shah, who has been in poll-bound Gujarat for a three-day visit since Thursday, was separately scheduled to lay the foundation stones and inaugurate developmental projects in Gandhinagar constituency
Ahmedabad: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday hit out at the Congress saying that during its rule in Gujarat, people would hold their breath during the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra fearing violence, riots, and gunfire.
Speaking at a gathering in Rupal which falls under his Lok Sabha constituency of Gandhinagar, Shah said: “Such incidents of violence occurred back then. Twice, the Lord [Jagannath]’s chariot [for the yatra] was taken away. But from the time people of Gujarat have taken away power from Congress and given it to the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party], such incidents have not taken place.”
Shah, who is on a three-day visit to the state since Thursday, flagged off the yatra in Ahmedabad early morning on Friday. The religious event is being held after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Thousands of devotees from all across Gujarat thronged the flagging-off event. Gujarat chief minister Bhuprendra Patel, who has been recovering from Covid-19, was among those who joined the procession. He undertook the symbolic ritual of cleaning the path for the chariot using a golden broom before the yatra started.
Shah also laid foundation stones for development projects worth ₹210 crore in the region and inaugurated seven overbridges built at a cost of ₹163 crore in the state.
Attacking the Congress at event to inaugurate the rejuvenation of a water body, Shah said the yatra was banned at least three times before the BJP came to power in 1995. “During Congress rule in Gujarat, have you seen any rath yatra procession that has gone smoothly? Today’s youngsters may not be aware of those days. They should ask their parents. Back then, when a rath yatra procession was carried out, people could get killed and a curfew would be imposed for days together. In BJP’s rule, nobody can dare disrupt any rath yatra procession. Riots and curfew are history in Gujarat. If a 15-year-old student here was asked today about curfew, he may not be able to answer for he has not seen one. Those who have seen the Congress rule will very well remember what curfew is,” he said.
He also listed a number of development projects in the country being carried out under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi — Covid vaccination, electricity and tap water connections for every household, health insurance for the poor, among others.
The procession returned to the temple around 8.30 pm after covering an 18-km route.
