Press lotus symbol so hard in Haryana that BJP current is felt in Italy: Amit Shah

Chandigarh: Launching BJP’s campaign for Haryana Assembly polls, party president Amit Shah on Monday alleged that corruption had flourished during the successive governments in state and sought a decisive mandate for all-round development of the state. “For 20 years, we are seeing Hooda and Chautala (ruling the state). One comes and corruption flourishes, the other comes both ‘gooindaism’ and corruption flourish. When you bring us to power, we will root out corruption and ‘goondaism’ and undertake development,” he said without naming anyone. Shah urged the people to reject the forces which try to woo the electorate on caste and regional basis. Seeking to touch an emotional chord with the people, Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is well versed with Haryana and its people after having worked in the state for nearly ten years as a party man earlier. “Make BJP victorious in the polls and see how he repays the debt,” he said. The BJP leader, who addressed a party rally at Tohana in Fatehabad district in southern Haryana, hit out at the Congress government in the state, saying it has been hit by several scams. “Ensure that their security is forfeited,” he added. [caption id=“attachment_1736877” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Amit Shah asked people of Haryana to press the lotus symbol so hard its current is felt in Italy. Reuters[/caption] “Don’t press the lotus symbol (BJP’s poll symbol), just like that only, but press it so hard that when the button is pressed in Haryana, current is felt in Italy,” Shah said. “Now, they are seeking one more chance. You gave them two chances (in a row) already. What have they done?” he added. He then sought one chance for BJP to usher in all-round development. “Give us one chance and bring us to power with majority. We will ensure all-round development,” he said. Shah said that people are fed up with the Congress regime while ‘goondaism’ flourished under the Chautala regime. Taking a dig at former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Shah claimed that he used to speak only after getting direction from the Gandhi family. Wooing the farmers, Shah said in the coming days, the Modi government is preparing a big scheme for the benefit of farmers around the country. “A blueprint for different regions is being prepared. Like, for example, the areas which are rich in water resources, there will be a different scheme for farmers in those areas. “While in areas like Rajasthan and for southern parts of the country, the scheme will be different,” Shah said. He then added,“If this time, people of Haryana commit a mistake, then you should take it for granted that your land will again be acquired for peanuts and you will get nothing while coffers of their sons-in-law will fill up and their bungalows will be built.” The BJP had won seven out of the eight seats it contested from Haryana in the Lok Sabha polls and the party is now fighting on all the 90 Assembly seats on its own after its ally the Haryana Janhit Congress snapped ties accusing the saffron party of “repeated betrayal”. However, the BJP President said,“but in Haryana this scheme can only be implemented when BJP government is formed here.” “If villages of Haryana are to get round-the-clock power supply and if farmers of the state have to be made prosperous, bring BJP to power,” Amit Shah said. Shah also told the gathering that in the coming days, “people will try to woo you on caste and regional basis, but I want to appeal the people of Haryana that they should reject those forces and vote for development and strengthen Modi’s hands.” He said that if BJP government is formed in the state, the benefits of development will percolate down to the grassroot-level as there will be no corruption. Notably, the BJP and other opposition parties in Haryana have alleged regional bias in development including the southern parts of Haryana, where Shah addressed the rally today. Shah also said that a false campaign is being run in Haryana by some that the Centre has banned rice export. “There cannot be a bigger lie than this. They are playing with sentiments of farmers, there is no ban,” he said, even as he hit out at the state government for “imposing a cess on foograin arriving in mandis.” He asked the gathering present at the rally to form a group of 25 voters each to bring the party to power with an absolute majority. Taking a dig at Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Shah asked the gathering if they would like to have a CM who takes permission from the Gandhi family before speaking. He also hit out at the Hooda-led government over alleged land scams. Meanwhile, Shah listed some achievements of the Modi government during 100 days in power that include emphasis on cleanliness, launching of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and the resolve to save the girl child. He also mentioned the formation of an SIT to bring back the black money stashed away abroad. Assuring the BJP-led government’s commitment to bring back the black money, Shah said one of the first proposals cleared by the Modi Cabinet was the constitution of an SIT to bring back black money stashed away abroad. On the issue of talks with Pakistan, Shah blamed the neighbouring country for spoiling it. Islamabad’s interaction with Hurriyat leaders just ahead of Foreign Secretary-level meeting was the reason for the failure of the talks, the BJP leader said. PTI