Farmers Movement Archive

BJP won’t topple Rajasthan govt, but beat it in 2023 polls: Amit Shah

JAIPUR: Union home minister Amit Shah has asked his party workers to force the Ashok Gehlot government to reduce Value Added Tax (VAT) on diesel and petrol. Addressing party workers at Janpratinidhi Sankalp Sammelan at Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre (JECC) on Sunday, Shah said, “Gehlot loves his tijori (money) more than the problems of people. I urged Gehlotji that BJP ruled states have reduced VAT to reduce the price of fuel and you too should reduce VAT.” “Gehlot government is not reducing the price….we have to force him by organising a movement,” he added. Shah was on a two-day trip to Rajasthan, which concluded with his address. Earlier in the day, over 40,000 people welcomed the Union home minister from the airport to JECC. Shah has repeatedly called party workers and leaders to aggressively work for getting an absolute majority in the state in 2023. He recognised the efforts of party workers in paving the way for forming the government in the Centre by giving all 25 seats in 2014 and 24 seats in 2019. The remaining one seat in 2019 was won by BJP’s ally Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) Hanuman Beniwal who drifted away over farm laws. Taking a dig at Gehlot for living in constant fear of seeing his government fall apart, Shah said, “Nobody is attempting to topple your government…. but you should tell us why your own people are running away from you.” He said the BJP would never topple Gehlot’s government and rather would go to the public in 2023 to seek their blessings and will return with an absolute majority in the state. “Gehlot is busy fighting internal fights while the law and order situation has gone for a toss. Cases of rape, murder and crimes against Dalits are at an all-time high. Even several cases of murders of temple priests have also been recorded in the state, which clearly states that temples are not safe,” said Shah while advising Gehlot to stop visiting other states like Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh and focus on improving the condition of his own state. Countering the claims of Gehlot of running an efficient government, Shah challenged him to hold assembly polls in Rajasthan with the polls in Uttar Pradesh. “Contest polls with UP and you (Gehlot) will come to know what the people of Rajasthan want,” said Shah. Accusing Gehlot of the poor show of central government schemes, he said, “Gehlot government twisted, tweaked and dropped several social welfare schemes of former CM Vasundhara Raje while not allowing people to reap the benefits of the schemes of the Modi government,” said Shah. Slamming the UPA government for poor security at the border, “Moni Baba (Manmohan Singh) government had always reacted poorly to terrorist attacks while PM Narendra Modi has given befitting reply to Pakistan for the attacks in Pulwama and Uri by carrying our airstrike and surgical strike.” Shah recalled his party’s contribution in paving the way for Ram Temple at Ayodhya and scrapping Article 370 from J&K.

The Times of India

2021-12-06

Jaipur