I’m here to root out Congress: Amit Shah

Asks State unit to prepare action plan for 2018 polls

Strengthening roots: BJP president Amit Shah arrives in Bengaluru on a three-day visit.

BJP national president Amit Shah began his three-day visit to Karnataka on Saturday by stating, “I’m here to root out Congress in the State.”

“I have come here to realise the slogan Ab ki bar BJP sarkar and will not rest till the corrupt Congress is taken down,” he said, to applause from party workers in front of the party’s State office in Bengaluru.

Slams Congress

Accusing the Congress government of being “corrupt and polarising,” he called upon BJP workers to not rest till the Congress is “rooted out in the State”.

Mr. Shah claimed the people had decided to vote BJP to power in the 2018 Assembly elections.

Mr. Shah is learnt to have asked the State unit to prepare an action plan to counter the Congress on four issues — demand for a separate Lingayat religion, allegations that the Centre is imposing Hindi, demand for a separate flag, and the inter-State Mahadayi river water row. The demand for a separate Lingayat religion and subsequent divide between the Lingayats and Veerashaivas has sparked concern in the party. However, the party has adopted a wait-and-watch policy and maintained a studied silence.