Democracy isn’t in danger in India but the idea of dynasty politics is, Union home minister Amit Shah said at twin rallies in UP focused on highlighting how people had “unwavering faith” in PM Narendra Modi while his detractors like Congress’s Rahul Gandhi were busy spinning “false narratives” abroad.
“The idea of one dynasty and politics promoting your (Gandhi) family is in danger. . . The autocracy of your family that is in danger,” Shah told a gathering at the Kaushambi Mahotsav that he inaugurated.
Tearing into the opposition for not allowing Parliament to function over Rahul being disqualified as an MP, he said, “In the history of independent India, it has never happened that the Budget session ended without a sitting and discussion. . . What was the reason? Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as Lok Sabha MP. ”
Shah reminded people about “who brought the law” that made the ex-Wayanad MP’s disqualification a natural consequence of him being convicted and sentenced to two years in jail for criminal defamation. “So far, the membership of 17 MLAs or MPs has gone (under that law),” he said, advising Rahul to “follow the law and secure acquittal from a higher court”.
Echoing PM Modi’s foundation day declaration that BJP was “set to win in 2024”, the home minister urged voters in UP to reprise the 2019 script when Congress, SP and BSP aligned for the polls but the people of the state “defeated all of them and made Modiji the Prime Minister yet again”.
Shah said BJP was ready for whatever Rahul was throwing at the party in the country’s name. “What does he think? Aren’t people not watching his activities? What kind of politics does he want to initiate in India? The people of India observe everything and decide accordingly. For the past 10 years, they have been watching the opposition; hence rest assured that this time too, the people of India will re-elect Modiji with more than 300 seats (for NDA). ”
The home minister said Modi being an MP from UP, he had made sure the Centre invested heavily in poverty alleviation. “He has provided 46 lakh people with homes, 2. 6 crore toilets have been built and 1. 7 crore gas cylinders were distributed. ”
(With inputs from agencies)