Launching BJP’s campaign in Chhattisgarh, Amit Shah says upcoming Lok Sabha election is crucial for nation’s future

The Home Minister lauded the Union government’s achievements in providing amenities for the poor, making India the world’s third largest economic power, and consecrating the Ram temple in Ayodhya

Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses the ‘Vijay Sankalp Shankhnad Rally’, in Janjgir-Champa on Thursday. | Photo Credit: ANI

Rallying support for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Chhattisgarh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on February 22 asserted that the upcoming Lok Sabha election would decide the future of the country.

Addressing a public meeting in Janjgir, his first since last year’s Assembly poll, Mr. Shah said that the upcoming election would be significant to make the country fully developed and a world leader. He also slammed the Congress and its governance record at both the Centre and the State.

“Friends, the coming election is an election that will decide the future of the country. The coming election is an important election to make the country fully developed and Mother India a world leader. Brothers and sisters, I want to thank the people of Chhattisgarh wholeheartedly. We came in 2014, you gave us 10 out of 11 seats, and just now you formed the Bharatiya Janata Party government with the highest majority in the Assembly,” he said, addressing the BJP’s Vijay Mahasankalp rally that marked the formal launch of the party’s Lok Sabha campaign in the State.

Welfare measures

Calling the previous Congress government in the State “incompetent”, Mr. Shah said that it had neither controlled Naxalism nor did justice to the people of Chhattisgarh, and so was overthrown.

Lauding the Narendra Modi-led government’s initiatives, Mr. Shah highlighted significant progress made over the past decade in improving access to essential amenities, citing a series of statistics.

“Under the leadership of Modi ji, in 10 years, the Central government has worked for the welfare of 60 crore poor people of the country. In these 10 years, Modi ji worked to provide tap water to 60 crore poor people of the country, drinking water has reached more than 38 lakh houses in Chhattisgarh for the first time after 75 years of its Independence,” he said.

Boosting economic power

He further highlighted the initiatives taken by the government to bolster national security and deliver social justice, besides the economic achievements of its tenure.

“Our country was at number 11 in the table of world economies; today, it is at number five. Modi’s guarantee is that if once again we bring the BJP government to the Centre, we will make India the third largest economic power in the world,” he said.

The senior BJP leader further slammed the Congress over the Ram Temple issue. “Today I have come to Ram’s maternal home. Chhattisgarh is the maternal birthplace of Ram. Ram Lalla was not able to sit in his house for 500 years, as the temple was not built. Congress did not end the issue that had been pending for 500 and a half years in 75 years but Modi Ji solved it and performed the consecration of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on January 22,” he said.