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BJP president Amit Shah will address a rally in Amethi, the political bastion of the Gandhis, along with Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and Union minister Smriti Irani. The aim of the visit would be to send out a message that the current regime believed in the all-round development of the state and not meting out a step-motherly treatment to the seats the BJP failed to win. Seeking to take the wind out of the sails of Shah and Irani, besides Adityanath, ahead of their proposed visit to Amethi, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused the BJP governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh of re-inaugurating the projects launched by the UPA regime in his Lok Sabha constituency. [caption id=“attachment_4127767” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of BJP president Amit Shah. Reuters[/caption] Irani arrived in the Gandhi bastion on Monday evening. PTI earlier reported that in a bid to improve its tally in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP devised “different strategies” for the seven seats it could not win the last time in Uttar Pradesh, where the saffron party and its ally put up their best show ever, bagging 73 of the 80 seats. Of the seven seats the BJP had failed to win, five went to the Samajwadi Party (SP), while the Congress managed to win only from its pocket boroughs — Amethi (Rahul Gandhi) and Rae Bareli (Sonia Gandhi). Uttar Pradesh BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi told PTI the party devised different strategies to win these seven Lok Sabha seats in 2019. “A number of activities have been planned for the party workers at the booth level and an exercise is going on to appoint leaders who will be in charge of these constituencies, so that they can send a strong message to the voters and the party cadre that the BJP stands for development,” he had said. Of the 73 seats won by the NDA in 2014, the BJP alone pocketed 71 with a 42.63 percent vote share. The other two seats were won by its ally, the Apna Dal. In 2014, Irani lifted the morale of the party workers by leading a high-voltage campaign against Rahul in Amethi. Still, Rahul managed to secure 4,08,651 votes, as opposed to Irani’s 3,00,748. Though Irani lost to Rahul in Amethi, she managed to reduce his victory margin from 3.70 lakh in 2009 to 1.07 lakh in 2014. In Rae Bareli, Sonia Gandhi secured 5,26,434 votes as opposed to the BJP candidate’s 1,73,721. With inputs from PTI
Amit Shah in UP highlights: Leave Gujarat, focus on Amethi instead, BJP chief tells Rahul Gandhi
BJP president Amit Shah will address a rally in Amethi, the political bastion of the Gandhis, along with Uttar Pradesh chief minister.
 "Amit Shah in UP highlights: Leave Gujarat, focus on Amethi instead, BJP chief tells Rahul Gandhi")
Unchahar-Amethi railway line is taking shape: Smriti Irani
Unchahar-Amethi railway line is finally taking shape. Catch a glimpse of facilities provided by @RailMinIndia for the people of Amethi. pic.twitter.com/5cTLMx59Gk
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) October 10, 2017
Smriti Irani shares video about problem of access to clean water in Amethi
Grateful thanks to @dpradhanbjp ji for coming forward & mitigating the problem of access to clean water for the people of Amethi. pic.twitter.com/gxtiVJuyq2
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) October 10, 2017
You won’t regret if you give BJP a chance: Amit Shah
Taking a swipe at Rahul Gandhi and Congress, Amit Shah said that “you have reposed faith in one family for 60 years. You won’t regret if you give the BJP and Narendra Modi a chance.”
Amit Shah had previously also referred to Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Italian glasses’
On Tuesday, Shah said that Rahul cannot see the development because he is wearing “Italian spectacles”.
Addressing a rally in Porbandar earlier this month, Shah had said, Rahul can’t see development because he is wearing Italian glasses. “To be able to see the development, he needs to remove those spectacles and wear Gujarati glasses.”
Rahul Gandhi’s lip service to development failed Amethi: Smriti Irani
Smriti Irani accused Rahul Gandhi of paying a lip service to development. She said the Congress leader was making fun of development in Gujarat but has no answer for the lack of it in his own backyard in Amethi.
“This state was once ruled by the Congress and the Gandhi clan has been representing Amethi for long. Now is the time for them to answer the people on why there has been no development,” she added. – IANS
‘Trust in BJP and Modi, and you will never be let down’
#ShahInAmethi -- Trust in BJP and PM Modi, and you will never be let down: Amit Shah #BattleForAmethi pic.twitter.com/KTyqcKxWm6
— News18 (@CNNnews18) October 10, 2017
Congress ke shehzaade ko puchna chahta hu, Modi Ji ke 3 saal ka hisab mangte ho, Amethi apki 3 peedhiyon ka jawab mangti hai: Amit Shah pic.twitter.com/zsgQqI11gx
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) October 10, 2017
By 2022, UP will be developed like Gujarat: Amit Shah
“Rahul baba always asks us what Modiji has done for the nation,” Amit Shah said in Amethi. “By 2022, UP will be developed by Gujarat,” he added.
“In the three years that we have been in power, Modi government has brought about 106 schemes. Maybe Rahul Gandhi does not even know how to count,” he said.
“We at least gave a prime minister to the nation who speaks. Earlier, India had a prime minister whom people were desperate to hear,” he added.
“Rahul baba, you are wearing Italian glasses. You cannot see things from the Indian perspective,” he said.
#ShahInAmethi -- What has Rahul Gandhi and Congress done for the development of Amethi?: Amit Shah takes on Rahul #BattleForAmethi pic.twitter.com/e5HXwn0TDH
— News18 (@CNNnews18) October 10, 2017
Amit Shah compares ‘Gandhi-Nehru model’ to ‘Modi model’
“I want to ask Rahul Gandhi: You have been an MP for so long. Why hasn’t Amethi got a collector’s office or Akashvani FM radio till now?” Amit Shah said.
“BJP won four out of five seats in Amethi,” he said. “There are two models of growth in Amethi: Gandhi-Nehru model and the Modi model,” he added.
“Three generations of Gandhis abandoned Amethi,” Shah said. “Modi model means 24/7 electricity for all households,” said the BJP president.
“The jodi of Yogiji and Modiji means development for Uttar Pradesh,” Shah said.
Narendra Modi never abandoned Amethi: Amit Shah
“I want to thank the people of Amethi,” BJP president Amit Shah said in Amethi, adding that the people of Amethi had supported BJP.
“I have come here because I want the people of Amethi to embrace development,” he said.
“Narendra Modiji, even after not getting the desired results, never abandoned Amethi,” Shah said.
“Three generations of the Congress were voted to power in Amethi. And you, Rahul baba, ask us what we did in mere 3 years?” he said.
#BattleForAmethi – Will not let people take away you land in the name of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation: Yogi Adityanath pic.twitter.com/jjasAP192G
— News18 (@CNNnews18) October 10, 2017
Samrat cycle ke naam par zameen ko Rajiv Gandhi foundation ke naam par hadapne ki jo saazish ho rahi hai isko hum pora nahi hone denge:UP CM pic.twitter.com/4bmfoy7g92
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) October 10, 2017
Congress doesn’t love India: Adityanath
“They used to think about Italy, but not about Amethi,” Yogi Adityanath said, as he continued to take jibes at the Congress.
“Congress has got several opportunities to be a part of Amethi. But you got only one opportunity to see them,” said the Uttar Pradesh chief minister.
“The foundation stones for development schemes being laid here is a sign of the growth Amethi is witnessing,” he said.
“Congress doesn’t love India. They cannot bring about development,” Adityanath said.
“When I had first become chief minister, there was no development here,” he said. “In rural areas, we have provided homes to over 8 lakh people,” he added. “Programmes to provide toilets to the families which did not have toilets have begun now.”
Amethi ke vikas ke saath-saath hum poore Uttar Pradesh ka vikas karenge: UP CM Yogi Adityanath pic.twitter.com/Gp7YjET9EU
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) October 10, 2017
Smriti Irani is the sister of Amethi: Adityanath
“We used to hear about Amethi and Raebareli,” Yogi Adityanath said. “These people (from the Congress) never thought about Amethi and Uttar Pradesh,” he added.
“Even if we did not get the desired results for Amethi in 2014, Smriti Irani has proven that she is the sister of Amethi,” Adityanath said.
“The conspiracy being hatched to grab land in Uttar Pradesh will not be tolerated,” said the UP CM. “Farmers’ land will not be allowed to become the property of a family,” he said.
“The farmers had given their land so that employment rises in Uttar Pradesh. But now when construction of roads here are talked about, it is only done when the central government gives Uttar Pradesh money,” Adityanath said.
Nobel Prize for Economics was awarded to the economist who was the first one to welcome demonetisation: Yogi Adityanath
“Uttar Pradesh government will leave no stone unturned when it comes to the development of Amethi and Uttar Pradesh,” Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said.
“We are fortunate to have a prime minister whose name in the world builds respect for India,” said the chief minister.
“The Nobel Prize for Economics was awarded to the economist who was the first one to welcome demonetisation,” said Adityanath.
#BattleForAmethi – Yogi Govt. did what others couldn’t do for years. No development in Rahul’s constituency: Smriti Irani pic.twitter.com/piV5zvRPwj
— News18 (@CNNnews18) October 10, 2017
People of Amethi want to tell Amit Shah that the lotus will bloom in 2019: Irani
“Today, the people of Amethi want to assure you (Amit Shah) that in the Lok Sabha polls of 2019, the lotus will bloom in Amethi,” Smriti Irani.
“When Narendra Modi had come to Amethi in 2014, Amethi had said: Ab ki baar, Modi sarkar,” she said.
There are still farmers who ask for land grabbed by Rahul Gandhi: Smriti Irani
“The people had been promised employment. But the cycle had been punctured a lot earlier,” Smriti Irani said, taking a dig at the SP.
“There are still farmers and labourers who still say that Rahul Gandhi has not returned land which belongs to them,” Irani said.
Pipri gaon ke logon ne kaha ki woh sansad mahoday se milne gaye aur bataya ki sansad mahoday ke pas humare liye waqt hi nahi: Smiri Irani pic.twitter.com/dlAS7WibEy
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) October 10, 2017
#BREAKING – "Amethi has embraced me and the BJP"; Smriti Irani attacks Rahul in Gandhi bastion #BattleForAmethi pic.twitter.com/I6Llhr76EQ
— News18 (@CNNnews18) October 10, 2017
Smriti Irani says she wants to ‘address those who have looked at Amethi just as a votebank’
“I am proud of the fact that our leadership did not turn their backs on us,” Smriti Irani said.
“Pipri had boycotted polls earlier,” said the Union minister.
“I want to address those who have looked at Amethi just as a votebank,” she said. She also said that promises of a rail line in Amethi had been made by people from Nehru to Rahul Gandhi but only Narendra Modi did work for development.
“I want to tell Rahul Gandhi: You go abroad and to Gujarat and talk about development. But tell the nation that the first TV unit is being installed in a hospital only when the BJP came to power,” Irani said.
Perhaps those people, who roam around the nation ranting about development, get scared when they hear the name of Amethi: Irani
“People had earlier told me that they are boycotting the 2014 polls because people from their own constituency were not willing to meet them,” Smriti Irani said.
“When I told the village head that we will work for development, he told me that he was done trying to trust politicians,” she said.
“Perhaps those people, who roam around the nation ranting about development, get scared when they hear the name of Amethi,” said Irani.
Amethi has embraced me: Smriti Irani
“Around 3 and a half years ago, when I had come to Amethi, I was welcomed here,” Smriti Irani said, as she began addressing the rally in Amethi.
“BJP workers had told me that they had been working here for 40 years and this struggle will go on,” said the Union minister.
BJP leaders to inaugurate/lay foundation for 21 projects in Amethi
BJP leaders will inaugurate or lay foundation for 21 new development projects in Amethi, according to NDTV.
The saffron is trying to send out a signal to counter the accusations of “step-motherly treatment” to Amethi.
श्री @AmitShah, मुख्यमंत्री श्री @myogiadityanath और केंद्रीय मंत्री श्रीमती @smritiirani लाभार्थियों को स्वीकृति पत्र बांट रहे हैं। pic.twitter.com/CeY1JeeHWI
— BJP (@BJP4India) October 10, 2017
BJP President Amit Shah at inauguration ceremony of various development schemes in Amethi; Union Minister Smriti Irani & UP CM also present pic.twitter.com/AsQLINwkj2
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) October 10, 2017
#BREAKING – BJP President Amit Shah arrives in #Amethi for mega BJP rally pic.twitter.com/SHMpt3NLsY
— News18 (@CNNnews18) October 10, 2017
Piyush Goyal on why he defended Amit Shah’s son: ‘I have obligation towards BJP’
“Insinuations have been made that sought to create the wrong perception…We are defending because the party president and the prime minister have been dragged in, and I have an obligation towards the party and the government,” The Indian Express quoted the railways minister as saying.
Anandiben Patel tells Amit Shah that she won’t fight Gujarat polls
Former Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel has said she does not want to contest the upcoming state Assembly polls and that she has informed BJP president Amit Shah about her decision in a letter.
The letter was written on 4 October, but released on Tuesday. Patel’s letter to Shah comes at a time when the BJP is in the process of forming three-member panels for each of the Assembly constituencies in the state to select the party candidates for the Assembly polls due later this year.
Click here to read the full _PTI_ report.Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi mocks Amit Shah’s son
“Jay Shah is an icon of start up India. Look how he brought the company’s revenue from Rs 50,000 to 80 crores,” the Congress vice-president said in Vadodara.
Click here for LIVE updates on Rahul Gandhi's visit to Gujarat .
Amit Shah arrives in Lucknow
BJP President Amit Shah arrives in Lucknow. He will be addressing a public rally in Amethi; UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also present. pic.twitter.com/RrMlYncFkM
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) October 10, 2017
Amit’s Shah schedule for today
The BJP chief will be in Amethi at 11 am to address various initiatives.
भाजपा राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष श्री @AmitShah के आज उत्तर प्रदेश में सार्वजनिक कार्यक्रम। लाइव देखें https://t.co/vpP0MI6iTu pic.twitter.com/MJtqWRScMJ
— BJP (@BJP4India) October 10, 2017
Himachal Congress attacks BJP chief over his son’s business growth row
Past @BJP4India President's #Advani #BangaruLaxman @nitin_gadkari resigned due to corruption allegations will @AmitShah resign ? pic.twitter.com/cTmVsycK5M
— Shimla Congress (@Shimlacongress) October 10, 2017
Local Cong leader in Amethi had joined BJP on Monday
Local Congress leader of Amethi Jang Bahadur Singh on Monday announced his decision to join the BJP, just a day ahead of Amit Shah’s visit to Amethi.
Singh, who was a BSP MLA from 2003 to 2007 before joining the Congress, said he was “saddened” by the policies of the Congress and felt “enthused by the development-oriented politics” of the BJP.
“I have decided to join the BJP. The projects which were started earlier have virtually slowed down significantly, thereby generating a sense of agony. However, with the advent of Smriti Irani (Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Textiles), there has been a visible shift,” he had told reporters.
Click here to read the full _PTI_ report.Watch: Smriti Irani lashes out at Rahul Gandhi
#SmritiInRaGaLand -- Amethi is not Gandhi bastion anymore. Rahul only knows Berkeley, not Barolia: Smriti Irani to @maryashakil pic.twitter.com/kNc6J0V4JH
— News18 (@CNNnews18) October 10, 2017
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